Houllier offers Roeder help

Roeder is watched by a happy Liverpool backroom staff

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Liverpool's Gerard Houllier is the latest Premiership manager to offer advice to beleaguered West Ham boss Glenn Roeder.

Roeder had a heart to heart with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson after the Hammers' 6-0 FA Cup defeat - and Houllier was ready to offer advice after Liverpool's win at West Ham.

Liverpool strolled to a 3-0 victory at Upton Park to leave Roeder fighting for his job and West Ham deep in Premiership trouble.

Liverpool romp past Hammers

Milan Baros and Steven Gerrard struck inside the first 10 minutes, and Emile Heskey's second half header completed an easy victory.

Houllier said: "I have a lot of sympathy for Glenn because he came up against a very strong Liverpool side.

"I know what it means to go through a difficult run because I had something similar happen to me two months ago.

"I shall go and talk to Glenn because he is always very dignified in the way he conducts himself. I shall tell him that he has the ingredients to keep West Ham up.

West Ham v Liverpool in pictures

"When I was under pressure my job was on the line if I read the papers.

"But we had players from the World Cup who were struggling, as well as injuries, whereas now our top players are back in form and we are back in business.

"It is like the start of a new league for us. I do not regard us as title contenders but we are going for a place in the Champions League."

We didn't compete well enough or get close enough to the Liverpool players

West Ham manager Glenn Roeder

Roeder was grateful for Houllier's comforting words but criticised some of his players for showing too much fear, and also for failing to carry out their duties at set-pieces - all three goals came from corners.

"It is nice of Gerard to say those things but we have to get our own house in order and show more fight than we did.

Liverpool celebrate Heskey's goal

"When we went 2-0 down some of our players were fearful, but we have got to be bigger than that and some of them have to roll up their sleeves.

"We didn't compete well enough or get close enough to the Liverpool players.

"We gave away cheap goals because people have certain responsibilities from set plays and they did not carry them out.

"We have a lot of experienced players but fear crept into their play.

"Having said all that, I thought Liverpool were very good and controlled large parts of the game and kept the ball well. We had our moments, but not enough of them."