and here is wat Gerard Houllier said after the game
08 January 2003 : by Paul Rogers
Gerard Houllier : The pitch was awful
Gerard Houllier tonight insisted that the pitch at Bramall Lane was
'awful' and that Liverpool are no more interested in Michael Tonge
than any other good Division 1 Player.
Here's the post-match press conference...
Press : Gerard, your views please...
GH: "I am very disappointed to have lost. But it is only half-time.
This is a competition played over two legs. In the first leg you
either put yourself in a good position or you don't. We are in the
middle. The second leg is at Anfield, in front of our own crowd and
hopefull on a better pitch. We are looking forward to it."
Press: How was your goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, he took a nasty
challenge off Michael Brown?
GH: "I am very happy that Chris' leg isn't broken. If Chris hadn't
moved his leg when the challenge came in it would have been broken.
He is limping but he will be okay, fortunately."
Press: Did the pitch favour Sheffield United?
GH: "Yes. You can't fault the players in terms of effort. The pitch
was awful and some of our players are new to this type of
game."
Press: You must have been impressed with Neil Mellor?
GH: "Neil took his goal very well and he did very well."
Press: Michael Tonge is a player you have been linked with, you
must have been impressed, and what impressed you most?
GH: "Where did you hear that? We scout every good player in
Division One, he is not the only one."
extract from www.liverpoolfc.com
