Liverpool have finally beaten someone convincingly, 3-0 against Portsmouth - the same side who drew 1-1 at Anfield and beat us twice at Portsmouth this season.

A great deal of speculation about Michael Owen has being going on recently. I personally believe he should have been dropped a good few games ago, but he scored twice tonight.

His contract talks were cancelled by the Liverpool executives earlier this week, and I personally hope that this was not the reason why he suddenly rediscovered his footballing touch. But who knows what goes on in the mind of a young man earning tens of thousands of pounds a week and suddenly discussing whether he will get more tens of thousands of pounds a week.

I have been a great supporter of Gerard Houllier, and through this website we have stood by him when most others have called for his head, or worse. Yet I am left with the feeling that the current Liverpool side is on the whole distinctly average - I think most fans could spend £120 million better.

His stubborness to adopt change, his reluctance to bring through local talent at the expense of generally lacklustre overseas players, and above all his failure to motivate his team has been the root of this seasons problems. It is one thing to see Liverpool struggling to win at the Portsmouths, Southampton's, Wolves and Bolton's of this world - but without even looking bothered?

Houllier's tenure at Anfield most probably is drawing to an end quite simply because although during those 90 minutes our togetherness is a unique feature of the Liverpool support, deep down most of us know that this man will never produce a Liverpool side of the calibre such as Arsenal have. The ability to never lie down, to never even accept a draw.

And the Champions League - even if we do finish 4th then what. In your heart of hearts can you see us progressing even past the first stage?

The summer cannot come soon enough my friends.

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