HOULLIER 'NO ANIMOSITY TO SOUEY'

Gerard Houllier returns to Ewood Park on Wednesday night determined to let bygones be bygones but equally insistent that he "meant what he said" after the rumpus over the tackle that broke Jamie Carragher's leg.

Liverpool boss Houllier and his opposite number at Blackburn, former Anfield chief Graeme Souness, were involved in a very public row the last time these sides met back in September when both Carragher and Milan Baros ended the match with fractured legs. Houllier blasted Rovers defender Lucas Neill for his tackle on Carragher, and Souness was not slow to hit back in a wrangle that went on for a week.

Now the clubs clash in the Carling Cup third round, with Houllier saying: "There will be no atmosphere, it will be down to common sense this time. I do not really want to go back on what I said, I meant it at the time but it is over now. This draw has been ironic, but it is just a game of football. I have not spoken to Graeme Souness, we are both concentrating on the game."

He added: "When the draw was made I thought it was a difficult tie, but I also thought there was some irony about the situation after what had happened there in the league match. But it is part of the past and water under the bridge. I just hope it is a good game of football. It is important for both sides.

"I do not wish to say anything about what happened before, it is finished and I want to concentrate on this game now."

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