LIVERPOOL are a football club rich in tradition and steeped in history.

But I must admit the Anfield giants have gone down in my estimations over the last two weeks after the way they've messed people about in regard to their forthcoming game with Rovers.

Cast your minds back for a second to the start of last month when the Reds requested that the original game should be shoved back to May 5 because of their commitments in the Champions League with Bayer Leverkusen.

At the time Graeme Souness and his board of directors graciously bowed to their demands, even though the switch had potential consequences for their own fight against relegation.

So it therefore stuck in my throat when I then heard that Gerard Houllier wanted to change the date again last week in order to 'boost' his own side's chances of winning the title.

Such a request by the Liverpool boss was arrogant to say the least given that Rovers weren't safe from the drop at the time, not to mention the fact it also showed a total disregard for the average fan on the street.

Supporters -- the life and soul of any football club -- have already had a bum deal this season thanks to Sky TV without the need for a meddling Frenchman to make things ten times worse.

To illustrate the point, Rovers' match against Fulham next week is only the second game this year that Ewood has staged on a Saturday.

To change the Liverpool date, therefore, not once but twice really takes the biscuit.

Take a mate of mine, for example, who's friendly with some Liverpool fans based in Ireland.

Several months ago they arranged to make a weekend of the Liverpool-Rovers game so hotels and ferries were booked in earnest.

Then came the news of the original fixture change which meant they lost a deposit on their accommodation.

Not to worry! In true British fashion they bit the bullet and duly booked again for May 5 only for the same thing to happen earlier this week.

Not surprisingly, they've now cancelled their tickets for the new date altogether because it's no longer convenient.

And some clubs wonder why they struggle to fill their grounds!

I've got to say I don't blame Rovers for any of this.

They've been press-ganged into the change and, not wanting to jeopardise their future relationship with the Merseysiders, they've given their consent now that survival has been achieved.

That's of little consequence to Joe Public, though, and it's not as if I can see where Houllier's coming from.

Surely, you'd think it would be more advantageous to play three days before Arsenal's trip to Manchester United because a Liverpool victory would only serve to increase the pressure on their two other title rivals.

It's all French to me!