Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler was told by manager Gerard Houllier today to resolve his differences with Anfield number two Phil Thompson or face being left out of the team.
Fowler, 26, was left out of the Liverpool line-up for last Sunday's Charity Shield win over Manchester United after falling out with Thompson on the eve of the match.
Houllier has told Fowler to apologise to Thompson if he wants to be reinstated in the squad.
"A regrettable incident happened in training, and Robbie knows my position and he understands the situation. Now it is down to him to resolve it," Houllier said.
"These sorts of things sometimes happen. Maybe they don't happen too often between some people and their boss, but it does happen.
"When it does happen you have to deal with it. That's what we are doing. We are dealing with it.
"Obviously Robbie understands what is going on. At some stage it will be solved and we will be able to put an end to the situation."
Houllier put an end to suggestions that Fowler had been transfer-listed but insisted his team can cope without him.
"There is one piece of speculation that I can put an end to immediately, and that is that he is not transfer listed. That is totally untrue," he said.
"But Robbie knows my position and it is down to him to resolve the problem. I didn't know that in factories and offices you could insult your boss.
"He is not in the squad to play West Ham (on Saturday) at this stage. The situation is not solved but he knows what is going on and he understands and he knows what is expected.
"We won't back down, so at the moment he is not in the squad. If people understand the working relationship between someone and their boss, you will understand."
AFP