Houllier fury at 'coward's' tackle on Carragher

Gerard Houllier last night launched a scathing attack on Lucas Neill after learning that the Blackburn Rovers right-back's two-footed challenge on Jamie Carragher had resulted in a broken right leg that is likely to keep the Liverpool and England defender out until March.

Neill was banished by the referee, Neale Barry, after 13 minutes of Saturday's Premiership fixture at Ewood Park, in which Liverpool came from behind to beat Blackburn 3-1. Houllier was initially restrained in his comments about the Australian's lunge but gave vent to his anger after an x-ray examination revealed the full extent of the injury.

"I said after the game that it was a tackle that could have resulted in a broken leg, and sadly that is what has happened," the Liverpool manager said. "To me it was a coward's challenge and Neill's reaction was also appalling because he then complained about being sent off."

Houllier added: "I am gutted for Jamie. He won't be able to play for six months, yet Neill will be playing again in three matches. I can imagine what Graeme Souness would be saying if one of his players had a leg broken in a similar way."

Souness, a former Liverpool manager and captain, conceded that his first reaction to Neill's challenge was that it was a poor one. The Blackburn manager cut an animated figure throughout the match, appearing to exchange heated words with Houllier and Phil Thompson, and contesting many decisions by the referee, whose performance he described as "not the best".

Liverpool also lost Milan Baros to a fractured ankle after an innocuous-looking second-minute challenge by the German defender Markus Babbel, one of three ex-Liverpool players whose presence in Blackburn's side heightened the game's competitive edge.

Baros had a metal plate inserted in the ankle during a two-hour operation on Saturday night. The Czech striker is expected to be out until the new year, putting Houllier's squad depth under the microscope with the transfer window now closed for three and a half months.

"Milan's injury came in totally different circumstances from Jamie's and no blame is attached to anyone," the Frenchman said. "But I didn't like the way the game was played. I would rather have lost the match than have lost two players to serious injuries."