Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier has been taken off a ventilator, the club announced this morning. Houllier is understood to have made good progress last night, after twelve hours of open-heart surgery. "We stated yesterday that the next significant step would be for Gerard to be taken off the ventilator and we are delighted to say this has now happened and we are encouraged by this positive progress," said the club statement.
Houllier complained of chest pains during Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Leeds at the weekend, and was taken to hospital, news that was hidden from the players. Houllier was thought to have had a heart attack, but instead it turned out to be a dissection of the aorta, a rare complaint.
Jacques Crevoisier, a member of the Liverpool coaching staff, said that stress had been in the air at Anfield in the build up to the high-profile clash. "The stress was palpable with the pile-up of matches and cascade of injuries. But there was nothing to let you predict an outcome like this. Gerard seemed calm in the morning."
Houllier is not expected to make a full return until the New Year, with Phil Thompson taking charge for the Champions League clash this week.
Filed by John Raftery
