Houllier defiant despite dismal run

ALEX FERGUSON may have written Liverpool out of the title race but his Anfield counterpart, Gerard Houllier, remains hell-bent on Champions League qualification.

The Manchester United manager believes the destination of the championship will be between the current top four teams in the Premiership, with Arsenal leading United, Chelsea and Newcastle. He said: “It’s probably the top three now, but Newcastle could get included. For anyone else to get involved would take a mammoth effort.” However, Houllier remains defiant despite a run of 11 Premiership games without a victory.

The Anfield club prepare for Saturday’s trip to emerging Southampton, who are a point and two places above Liverpool in the table, with Houllier claiming: “This is not going to last. All I can say is that it is our objective to finish in the top four.

"We are fighting back, but at the moment we are struggling and everyone is suffering during this difficult period. I insist that if we had just six points more, which we were entitled to after the games against Sunderland, then we would be on 41 and we would be significantly higher.

“That would put a different complexion on things. It’s true that there is often a very fine line between succeeding and not succeeding. All I will say to that is that it is our objective to finish in the top four.

"We are scared of no team. In the English league you can’t afford to be scared of anyone. I mean, we weren’t frightened when we went to Arsenal. What I would say is that other teams know that we are going through a difficult period, in terms of confidence as well as results, and they try to make the most of that. That’s normal but this is not going to last.”

Salif Diao will be missing at St Mary’s due to suspension, while midfielder Dietmar Hamann is back in light training but will not be rushed back and is unlikely to play now until next month.