Players Are Furious With Themselves Says Houllier

Liverpool Boss Gerard Houllier says his players are furious with themselves after the dismal showing in the 2-0 Champions League Defeat by Valencia.

Valenica were far the better side on the night and Liverpool simply did not play nearly as well as they can.

Houllier said: "My players are angry with themselves after that performance.

"They are in the dressing room not happy at all with what happened.

"I knew this would be the hardest game for us in the group, they were just better than us on the night.

"I was disappointed because we never saw the true Liverpool out there.

"Valencia were more experienced. They have a steady, settled side and they have just won their title.

"They are a very, very good side. They played better than us and deserved to win."

Valencia boss Rafael Benitez on Micheal Owen not starting the game he said: "We certainly expected to see Owen, he is part of the power of Liverpool.

"But I would not criticise them for what they did, we expected (Emile) Heskey and we had to face him. Their coach must have had his reasons.

"But I expect Liverpool to hit back from this, they will stand up and fight because they are a great team."

Houllier explained: "I felt it was going to be a physical battle so that is why I started with Heskey up front and (El Hadji) Diouf just behind him.

"But the system didn't work as well as I had hoped.

"We looked shaky in defence, and we were not as bright in midfield and we could have done better up front.

"All that together is why we lost. It was a day off from the office."

On Dietmar Hamann's red card, Houllier said: "It was very unfortunate.

"He had been fouled and managed to get entangled with his opponent.

"There was nothing malicious or harmful about what he did."