Anfield abuzz as Houllier plans return

Liverpool's dogged title challenge will receive a boost today when Gerard Houllier eases himself back at Anfield after almost five months recovering from heart surgery, reports Dominic Fifield.

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Houllier, who has been convalescing in France, was due on Merseyside last night and is expected to visit the Melwood training complex today to help prepare the players for this evening's visit of Newcastle.

Although Houllier is unlikely to attend the match and will undergo further tests at Broadgreen's cardiothoracic centre this week, he hopes to travel with the squad for next Wednesday's Champions League tie in Barcelona.

"Gerard's coming along fine and his recovery is still going to plan," said the acting manager Phil Thompson yesterday. "He will be fine to resume his duties mid-to-latish March."

Since suffering an aortic dissection on October 13th, after complaining of feeling unwell during the 1-1 draw with Leeds, Houllier has remained in regular contact with Thompson but has made only fleeting visits to Melwood. He has been heavily involved in Liverpool's transfer dealings during that time: sanctioning the sale of Robbie Fowler, negotiating Nicolas Anelka's loan from Paris St-Germain and even checking on training facilities in Istanbul before last week's draw with Galatasaray.

Thompson and Houllier will recall Michael Owen, rested at Fulham on Saturday, hoping that the striker adds to his 12 goals in seven appearances against the Tynesiders but Steven Gerrard is still absent with groin trouble. Nicky Barmby may return for the first time since ankle surgery four months ago.

Thompson says he is targeting a 100 per cent run-in. He said: "We aim to win every match between now and the end of the season. That's the objective."

Owen has had two hat-tricks in matches against Newcastle - and has failed to net in only one match against the Geordies.

Newcastle manager Bobby Robson has called on his defence to improve their dreadful record against the England striker. Asked how to stop Owen, he replied: "Tie his legs together. We'll just heavily mark him with cover. What else can you do? There'll be a man designated to play against him on that side. We know who it will be and we've got to give that player every confidence that he can do it with cover."

Aaron Hughes and Andy O'Brien are the main candidates for the job of picking up Owen and there could be a change up front too where fit-again £7 million striker Carl Cort is pushing youngster Shola Ameobi for the place vacated by the injured Craig Bellamy.

Guardian Service