Signs of panic at Anfield

'I used to travel to Anfield safe in the knowledge that Liverpool were going to win, whereas now I go more in hope, ' said the former Scotland centre back. 'I fear for them because they look vulnerable, especially against teams who hit them on the counter-attack.

'They are good enough to take the last Champions League place, but it still seems inconceivable that the big three in the Premiership no longer include Liverpool.

'The buck stops with the manager because he buys the players and picks the team.'

The instinctive reaction to defeat from disaffected fans could inflict the greatest harm when Liverpool's board decide how far their patience can stretch.

Moores' majority shareholding may give him the mandate for hiring and firing, but it is those in the taprooms in and around Liverpool, rather than the boardroom at Anfield, who effectively sit as judge and jury.

Public opinion is liable to exert a far greater influence on Moores than an anti-Houllier rant from an embittered explayer like Ian St John, who attempted to turn up the heat on the Liverpool boss by claiming, on BBC Radio Five Live, that his time was up and he should go. The real pressure will come if the dissenting voices and boos become even more audible.

Moores is known for staying loyal to his prime employee, less so for standing firm in the face of hostility from the terraces. Protecting self-interest is a general rule of thumb for chairmen up and down the land, and Liverpool's is no different.

While those who delight in vilifying Houllier on air may be a lost cause, the 56-year old French coach still has time to win over those Anfield patrons.

Houllier knows he is in the midst of his biggest managerial crisis and admitted as much yesterday as he bemoaned the continuing absence of key attacking spearheads Owen, Milan Baros and Harry Kewell, and defiantly maintained that, with a clean bill of health, his team are a match for any Premiership side.

' This is one of the most disappointing spells I've ever had, and I just wish we could get all our injured players back,' he said. 'We're as good as anyone when we have all our personnel available.

'We have shown that this season against Manchester United and Arsenal, and now we must stick to our guns. The fans are hurting, but no more so than the players and staff. We're all disappointed but remain positive.

'I'm convinced we'll have a good spell once our injuries clear up and everyone is back.'

For all the furore over the 50th League defeat of Houllier's five-year tenure on Saturday, the minority are unlikely to have their voice heard for the time being. Not while Moores continues to trust that the long-promised winning run will finally be delivered and hope, in the meantime, that any protests are kept to a minimum.

It is subject to change and the irony will not be lost on Houllier that those who held cards above their heads last season, turning the Kop into a spectacular mural bearing his initials, could be showing him the red variety if Liverpool's fortunes decline.