By Phil McNulty Chief Football Writer

Gerard Houllier suspects the army of critics of Liverpool's playing style may be motivated by fear.

German legend Franz Beckenbauer joined the snipers before Liverpool's Champions League exit against Bayer Leverkusen, when he pilloried their performance in the first leg at Anfield.

Beckenbauer joined former Holland captain Johan Cruyff in lambasting Liverpool's so-called 'boring' tactics.

What I don't understand about former players sometimes is that they forget they were players themselves

Gerard Houllier

Houllier and Thompson are back in tandem

"What I don't understand about former players sometimes is that they forget they were players themselves.

"They only seem to have played in cup finals and very successful games. Sometimes they need to put things into perspective and say it was a performance on a certain day - not make generalizations.

Houllier added: "People say we are a counter-attacking team and some say we are boring. How can you say that about a team that scored 127 goals in 63 games last season?

"This was a ratio of more than two goals every game in all competitions and the third best in Liverpool's history."

Houllier revealed he is satisfied that so much attention is placed on Liverpool, believing it is confirmation that they are on the right track to revive the Anfield glory era.

He said: "In a way I am very pleased. It is better than people ignoring you, and also sometimes when people criticise you it is because they fear you.

"This is certainly what I have told my players."