Football: You can't win Robbie

NOT for the first time, Robbie Fowler appears to have fallen out with the powers-that-be at Anfield.

Only Liverpool know what happened to cause what appears to be a massive fall-out between Robbie and Phil Thompson but when the manager comes out and appears to say "Apologise or you're not playing for the team" then it gets serious.

Unless they can settle this quickly then it looks like Robbie (right) will have to leave Anfield but I am absolutely sure he doesn't want to do that. People shouldn't under-estimate this boy's passion for Liverpool. It would be the biggest wrench of his life if he had to leave the club. That's why he has stayed there when other players may have left.

But if you have a stand-off situation at a football club there is always going to be just one winner and that will be the manager.

If it is true that during the row with Fowler, Phil Thompson suggested Robbie should leave then he is in the wrong.

You can say what you want about Fowler but is still one of the country's best strikers and if he is put up for sale there will be a queue of top quality clubs trying to sign him.

Maybe Houllier feels that with Heskey, Owen, Litmanen and Smicer he has sufficient back-up with players he can keep happier than Fowler, who won't want to play a bit-part role.

He might feel that if he can get pounds 15million to pounds 20m for Fowler that gives him one hell of a cash pot to go out and buy what I feel Liverpool need desperately - a world-class centre-back.

That's just speculation but whatever happens Houllier will have the last word. Player power might be strong but no one player is bigger than the club and its manager.

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