"There are some areas that we have improved, such as changing the way we play and the way we approach the game, but once we go 1-0 down we need to be stronger mentally.

”That's always been one of my main features [as a manager].

"The first goal affected our morale. We are not the most confident team and we are aware of that. We were on the back of three defeats so obviously the first goal stunned us.

“The second goal is offside and it's a vital goal as it means the game is over. After that it took us a while to get back into the game.

“We had a good start to the second half and nearly had a goal with the chance Gabby [Agbonlahor] had, but then we conceded a third goal on the break and that was it. We need to address a few problems. We were lacking too many things.

"I appreciated the fact they chanted my name at the end. That means they can remember.

"There was a banner before the start of the game, too. I was not emotional but I was extremely touched by that.

“If I was going to lose 3-0 to anyone it would Liverpool, but at the same time I'm the boss of Aston Villa. If we'd scored at 2-1 the game would have been different."

Gérard Houllier.



"If you want me to apologise, I apologise. Even if I don't feel I have done something wrong in terms of intentions.

"If [the fans] felt hurt it was not at all what was meant.

”I was surprised to see them say touching this [the Anfield sign] was a huge offence. I am hurting like they are but I am not going to forget the experience I had with Liverpool and Lyon and I want to have the same here. It was totally taken out of context. It was not what it was meant. If it hurts, then I am sorry."

Gérard Houllier.


“I am unable to get into GH's mind nor am I able to truly understand what he was feeling before, during and after the game.

”Equally, I am not going to try to minimise what he said, make excuses or anything else... What I do know is what he put forth in his statement is far closer to the reality of how he feels about our club and our fans.

"Those who are looking for GH's head, who are asking that he be fired, have the right to feel that way – they buy the tickets and can say what they want. At the same time, Randy and the board need to keep focused on the overall goal and we believe that GH plays a key role in achieving that goal.

"I believe we are ALL SORRY about what happened. To think that no one is sorry is just crazy. Perhaps his statement should have used the 'sorry' word...but I doubt if that would have made any difference to many of the fans."

Villa non-executive director General Charles Krulak.


"No one likes to lose 3-0 against any team and, if comments I made in the immediate aftermath of our defeat by Liverpool have been misconstrued – comments which were intended to be humorous, by the way – let me put them into context.

“The experiences I enjoyed with Liverpool some years ago will always stay with me, as will many experiences I have had in football both before and since, and I have taken all these experiences into my job as manager of Aston Villa.

"I understand the fans' feelings of hurt and disappointment at the moment – I am hurting as much as anybody, believe me – and I say emphatically that we will battle through. Building lasting success at Aston Villa is my focus and my commitment to this challenge is resolute."

Gérard Houllier.


"The manager didn't have to say a lot to us. As players we knew it wasn't good enough. We didn't really start well and when the second goal went in we had a mountain to climb.

“Looking at the table we are down there but is it so tight you can soon fly up. We have West Brom at home and if get a win everything looks a lot more rosy. We can go into the Christmas period more confident. We've got a massive game now on Saturday in which we've got to put things right. We have to be man enough to stand up and have a right go.

“We are still a good squad and have players coming back from injury which is a big plus. Maybe Ash [Ashley Young] will come back from his ban on Saturday. Emile [Heskey] might be fit. Nigel Reo-Coker is not far away. When we have these players back we have a strong squad."

Stewart Downing.



"I have had a word with him. He was out with his wife having a meal. There was no drink and no problem. If we had not lost 3-0 at Liverpool, none of this would be talked about. No one would be talking about the manager who had said this and done that and players being seen late at night."

Gérard Houllier on James Collins.


"After the Liverpool game I was supposed to go to France. I wanted to see a Champions League game but I cancelled that because I wanted to stay with the team and the staff. We had meetings because we are concerned with what is going on. Those meetings involved contact with the chairman, which was extremely positive. He knows we are going through a really bad run. We have got to stick together and push up. It is as simple as that."

Gérard Houllier.



“We’re concerned.

“The players and the staff have to take things in our hands.

“We conceded a goal and then we conceded another goal, which to me was offside, the second goal.

“I think the second half started extremely well. Everybody would have expected we would score a goal. We had a good chance with Gabby [Agbonlahor] but unfortunately on the back of that we conceded a third goal so it was game over.

“[But] I cannot fault the players for the effort, they tried hard. When you concede a goal after 13 minutes at Anfield it’s hard to come back. It’s a shame because we could have done something here. We are not the most confident team at the moment and we are aware of that.

“I don’t think things will improve if you start moaning about injuries and sickness. We rushed Marc Albrighton back after an appendicitis operation two weeks ago and last night Gabby [Agbonlahor] was sick and we didn’t know until this morning whether he would be playing or not.

“[But] this for me is not a way to progress - to look for excuses or blame others.

“Two or three wins and we would be back in the top half of the table but we need to concentrate on the fact that there are a few errors in our game which can be improved and one of those is the need to defend better.”

Gérard Houllier.