Giant killer
GERARD HOULLIER has been warned to expect a new breed of giantkilling — from a 6ft 8in colossus.
Yeovil’s Portuguese defender Hugo Rodrigues — the tallest man in English professional football — is determined to get Liverpool boss Houllier the sack after Sunday’s FA Cup tie of the round.
Michael Owen is expected to make his long-awaited return from an ankle injury in Scrumpy Country and the 5ft 8in England striker will be marked by the David who is also a Goliath.
Yeovil notched up a record 20 FA Cup giantkillings during their non-league days and are out to keep up that proud tradition as a Third Division club.
Rodrigues, 24, said: “Everyone has told me how Yeovil have always killed the giants.
“They talk about David killing Goliath. With me in the team it could be Goliath killing Goliath this time.
“This is definitely the biggest game of my life and I hope Owen is playing. You want to play against the best and Owen is one of the best players in the world.”
Owen trained yesterday and is expected to play at least some part against Yeovil.
Rodrigues added: “They have told me I’m the tallest player in the League but I haven’t scored from a corner since I came to Yeovil in the summer.
“I keep going up for corners but there are always at least two men marking me — I don’t understand why!”
Rodrigues and his Yeovil team-mates have cranked up the pressure on troubled Anfield boss Houllier.
They know that the Frenchman cannot afford to crash out of the FA Cup in the third round to a Third Division side with the Premiership already out of reach.
And Rodrigues said: “Liverpool are one of the teams who hope to win everything but I don’t think they have a chance in the championship.
“So to save their season they have to win the FA Cup or UEFA Cup — they will certainly bring their first team here and they know they can’t relax and treat us like just a Third Division team.
“If they lose here, it will be a massive thing for them and everything will change at the club because of it.
“They have been losing a few games in the Premiership and that will make things difficult for them. Everyone says things are not easy for their manager and I think this will be the final stage for him if they lose to us.”
After winning the Conference last season, Yeovil boss Gary Johnson cast his line out for a tall central defender — and landed a whopper when Rodrigues arrived from Portuguese Second Division club Pedras Rubras.
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Heroes of the sea, noble race,
Valiant and immortal nation,
Now is the hour to raise up on high once more
Portugal's splendour.
From out of the mists of memory,
Oh Homeland, we hear the voices
Of your great forefathers
That shall lead you on to victory!
UPCOMING YOUTH STRIKERS
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