Early exit brings question time nearer for Houllier

Gérard Houllier is not the most gracious of losers. But born winners never are. When was the last time Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsène Wenger emerged from the dressing-room accepting a defeat?

Perhaps this explains why the Frenchman consigned Tuesday's abject 3-3 Champions' League draw with Basle to the history books within an hour of the final whistle. Ignore defeats and move on seems to be the motto.

If only it were that simple. By deciding to sweep the sporting and financial set-back under the carpet, Houllier is taking a serious gamble. Like it or not, the team's problems need to be addressed. "It is not the end of the world," he said after the match. "We were very unlucky and Basle rode their luck."

Not everyone will support the manager's views. Nor will they agree with his unusually personal attack on one of his star players. Steven Gerrard has borne much of the brunt following a poor first-half display. True, the England international is playing well below par at the moment, but he was not alone in that during the opening 45 minutes. In many ways, the criticism he has received since Tuesday has merely covered up some questionable tactical decisions. Why, for example, was Emile Heskey kept wide on the left when the isolated Michael Owen was crying out for more support up front?

And why was Gerrard the only player substituted during the interval? For all his obvious talent, Djimi Traore looked uncomfortable in the heart of defence. More worrying still, the normally unflappable Sami Hyypia made more individual errors in one game than he did throughout the whole of last season.

Perhaps Gerrard has been singled out because so much – arguably too much – is expected of him. Still only 22, the central midfielder is seen as the key component of the Liverpool and England teams. He may not like it, but a stint on the bench could be just the reality check he needs.

Houllier has certainly hinted at the possibility of an enforced rest. "I always play my best team in every game," he said when asked whether Gerrard's half-time replacement on Tuesday, Senegal's Salif Diao, might now be given an extended run in the side. "I played Steven [against Basle] because I thought the penetration he could offer would be important. There is nothing wrong with his fitness and he's available for selection against Sunderland [today], but I will play my best team." So Diao looks odds-on to start at Anfield.

Gerrard's malaise aside, the Champions' League failure raises obvious questions about Liverpool's ability to win the Premiership, not least because defensive-minded teams have struggled to lift the League title in recent years. Houllier has always insisted that his team do not deserve to be labelled "conservative", but their last two defeats, against Middlesbrough and Basle, suggest otherwise. Liverpool have the personnel to play a more offensive game, but does their manager have the will?

Houllier, who has made no secret of his craving to win the biggest European prize, has one consolation for his huge disappointment – the players can now concentrate on just the one target, if you ignore the Uefa Cup in which they face the Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem. "I don't think the Basle defeat will affect morale," the Frenchman said. "Can I tell you why? I think it is because the Premiership is what was always in the players' minds. The Champions' League is my favourite, but I know what the players want. Well, now they have what they want."