Houllier sees bright future for Reds

GERARD HOULLIER believes Liverpool could be on the verge of something special.

The Premiership front-runners will extend their lead to seven points at the top of the table if they beat West Ham today at Anfield.

Houllier is keeping cool, saying that kind of margin will only be important when they go to Chelsea on the last day of the season.

‘‘We have a belief about us that it is going to be a special year,’’ said the Liverpool manager.

‘‘We know where we want to go. We’ve got the quality and probably the right mental attitude.

‘‘But we will stay as quiet as we are until the end of the season.

‘‘You are bound to have better results if you have a strong sense of humility.

‘‘That’s my style and you won’t find us boasting even though the club has been progressing the last four years.

‘‘We now have a great opportunity to step up and with a view to extending that lead.’’

Liverpool, who finished runners-up last season may be unbeaten in the league but their hopes of dominance in Europe are yet to truly take off.

The Reds have lost twice to Valencia in the Champions League, the latest setback coming in midweek on their home patch.

Yet Houllier was today rewarded for his Premiership efforts by being named manager of the month for October.

And he is grateful to be back in action so soon after that defeat by the Spanish side.

‘‘When you are named manager of the month, it really means you have the best team of the month.

‘‘I want to share the accolade with my players, the staff and the fans. You don’t win things on your own.

‘‘The good thing about being involved in so many games is that when you lose, three days later you can wipe that out with a great performance.

‘‘But we are aware every game is a battle in the Premiership, a bit like the Cup Final.’’

Steven Gerrard’s fitness is again a slight concern for the club ahead of the game.

Gerrard has recovered from a hip injury but Houllier may decide to rest him.

Defenders Stephane Henchoz and Abel Xavier are again sidelined because of injury and illness.

The Hammers lost to Everton last weekend after two successive victories but Houllier believes they pose a threat when they travel.

‘‘West Ham have won at Chelsea, Sunderland and Fulham so that means that away from home they are a handful,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Houllier has clinched the Barclaycard Premiership manager of the month award for October.

The Frenchman led the Reds to the top of the table during a month in which they picked up league wins against Chelsea, Tottenham and Leeds, as well as two Champions League victories against Spartak Moscow.

Gianfranco Zola’s late-career revival has been rewarded with the player of the month award.

Chelsea’s Italian maestro scored twice in the month to take his season’s tally so far to eight goals in the league.