Moores could end his reign at Liverpool

THE MOORES family's 50- year hold over Liverpool could come to an end if club chairman David carries out his threat to give up control of the club.

Moores, who still backs Gerard Houllier, made the revelation at the end of a stormy annual general meeting. Moores and his manager were criticised by shareholders frustrated by the club's indifferent form on the field.

Just how close Moores is to letting control of Anfield go will not be known until the end of the season. But, for the first time, Moores has agreed to hold talks with millionaire Steve Morgan, the club's third-largest shareholder.

Morgan has always wanted a say in the running of the club and a place on the board, but has previously been denied.

Moores told the shareholders: "I appreciate all you say and as chairman the buck stops with me. If it gets worse I will look at my own position, but I hope it doesn't come to that.

"At the end of the season I'll be looking at myself, but at the moment we try to do the best we can. But I believe we can come through this, I believe in what the manager has planned, and our success."

Houllier, who takes his injury-hit side to Chelsea tomorrow, gave a speech backing former England midfielder is suffering from a tight hamstring, so manager Kevin Keegan could restore England Under-21 Joey Barton to his starting line-up.

Greek defender Nikos Dabizas goes straight into the Leicester squad at Southampton following his transfer from Newcastle. Steve Howey is also set to travel after recovering from a hamstring strain but Frank Sinclair and Ben Thatcher have been ruled out again by injuries and Matt Elliott is suspended.

Moores' policies but he, too, must now be concerned about the future.

Moores has a 51 per cent controlling interest and has been chairman for more than a decade.

Were he to step down, Houllier's position could well be under threat and only qualification for the Champions League could maintain the status quo at Anfield.

England midfielder Steven Gerrard is unlikely to recover from his thigh strain in time for the trip to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is expected to return after missing two games with a groin strain while Hernn Crespo is fit again after he fell ill over the holiday period.

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