Wednesday 27th August 2003 

HOULLIER FIRMLY BEHIND KEWELLL

Gérard Houllier has offered a stout defence of his £5m summer signing Harry Kewell, insisting he will coax the best out of the Australian international despite a sluggish start to his Liverpool career.
Kewell will play against Tottenham at Anfield this evening aiming to exorcise his disjointed display at Aston Villa on Sunday and inspire the Merseysiders to a first league win of the new campaign. Houllier has come in for particular criticism over his decision to play the 24-year-old on the right wing, though that is where he is likely to start tonight.

"The modern game's about movement," said the Liverpool manager. "Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all play in different positions yet no one goes on about them. Harry's an offensive midfielder who can play on the left or the right, and I also like him behind the strikers. There's pressure on him because he's a big signing but that pressure's not from me."

The Guardian