Senegal duo dropped after late return
Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier insisted Senegal duo El-Hadji Diouf and Salif Diao have no chance of featuring for the Reds in tomorrow’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Portsmouth.
Senegal were eliminated from the African Nations Cup last Saturday and Houllier expected the pair would return to Anfield on Monday.
However, they did not arrive back until Wednesday and the French manager has told them they do not figure in his plans against Pompey.
“They should have been back on Monday – and I am not pleased,” said Houllier.
“They said they had to go back to Senegal but I told them we had a game on Wednesday. I am not sure who is to blame but I don’t want an explanation and it will be dealt with internally.
“If the game is played in the same continent, such as England next week, players have to be back at their club within 24 hours. When it is in a different one, they have 48 hours and I can tell you it does not take that long to come back from Tunis.
“They are not in the squad for Portsmouth – no chance. I will tell them I am not happy and I know that some Senegal players went back earlier.”
Some of Senegal’s players took part in a civic reception in their home country before returning to their clubs, and Wolves were equally unhappy at the late return of striker Henri Camara.
