Houllier's 10-year Liverpool plan
Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier has insisted that he wants to remain in charge at Anfield for 10 years.
Houllier was reacting to suggestions that he was looking to return to his native France when his current five-year contract runs out in order to team back up with the French national side.
Houllier, who has coached France and was the country's FA technical director when they lifted the World Cup, had been involved with the national team in a coaching capacity for 10 years before being lured to Anfield. But he feels comments he made in an article published in France have been misinterpreted to assume he wants to return home.
Houllier said: "As far as I'm concerned I'd like to stay with Liverpool for the next 10 years.
"I was asked if I would ever consider returning to the French national team, but my answer was taken out of context.
"I hope I will still be Liverpool manager at the end of my contract and beyond that. No-one can say what will be happening in five years' time, but we are building a project here. We are building for success."
The next part of that success he hopes will be a serious assault on the FA Cup, starting with Saturday's home third round tie with Rotherham.
Whether Houllier decides to leave his skipper Robbie Fowler in the side after a poor display against Southampton and the late-night city centre incident in which the striker was allegedly assaulted, remains to be seen.
Fowler received only minor injuries, but it is unlikely that Houllier will be impressed with another altercation involving the 25-year-old.
Liverpool issued a statement last night saying: "Robbie Fowler was the victim of a completely unprovoked assault in Liverpool. Although the player's injuries are not serious, he is obviously upset and shocked.
"The matter is now in the hands of the police and everybody at the club is fully supportive of Robbie at this time."
But such incidents will only further encourage transfer speculation, Fowler having been the subject of interest from Chelsea and Leeds this season as he struggles to recapture his best form after two injury-blighted years.
Houllier has frequently claimed it could take Fowler six months to get back to his best and has even questioned the striker's lifestyle. This latest incident will only further annoy the Frenchman.
Houllier could use his rotation system to recall Michael Owen to face the Yorkshire club, but team selection will rest on how quickly Emile Heskey, Markus Babbel and Gary McAllister recover from injuries picked up in the 2-1 win over Southampton.
