HOULLIER'S TRIBUTE TO FOE

Gerard Houllier has spoken out about how Marc-Vivien Foe was very supportive of him when he took ill back in 2001 and insists he's distraught about his death.

Liverpool manager Houllier was speaking in the aftermath of Foe's shock death on Thursday and, clearly moved, said: "Everyone at Liverpool is distraught and are thoughts are with his wife and children. Personally I knew him very well. We were on the same plane from Manchester to Paris for the Confederations Cup and spent two hours together.

"Marc was a very, very nice lad and he was very supportive to me when I had my health problems. I am devastated by the news. The whole of football is in mourning and we'll miss him as a player and as a man."