If Houllier starts this clod in any of the next eight matches for any reason other than someone elses injury, then he has officially lost the plot. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N144381040329-1048.htm
I agree, tho the only position Diao should be playing (and have played) is the centre midfield role he was bought for. Playing him as a centre-back, right-back and even right-mid seems to have zapped away his confidence, his willingness to play his natural game and has got the fans on his back. Diao will probably go down in LFC history as a player similar to Biscan - a good much sought-after player not given a run of games in his natural position and then sporadically played out of position - in an underacheiving team. Of course, it could be argued that he just isn't good enough... or that there are other here or coming through that need an opportunity (Diarra and Welsh spring to mind), and therefore should be sold in the Summer.
Don't panic. He'll get into a couple of reserve matches, get suspended (again) or injured (again) and the summer will be upon us. Back to France for him, I'd guess. Abel Xavier without the "fashion sense," if you can call it that. Since we're on the subject of ex-Reds, Jari Litmanen was told by Ajax that his contract won't be renewed. Too many injuries; only played nine matches since transferring. ----