Defiant Houllier eyes Champions League spot
The Anfield chief knows talk is cheap, and only a continuation of the form of the past week will keep the critics at bay.
Liverpool, with two wins, seven goals and a boost in confidence from the past seven days, must maintain that improvement at Fulham tomorrow.
And that against an emerging side, ahead of them in the table, who stunned champions Manchester United last weekend.
Houllier, who could be without injury victims Michael Owen, Sami Hyypia and Florent Sinama-Pongolle at Loftus Road, insists Liverpool are on the right track despite the criticism that has come their way.
He said: “We have had two good performances and two good results in a week. Now we know we must keep that momentum going.
“Fulham is not an easy place to go. They have just won at Old Trafford - there was great ability in their performance there.
“But what we aim still to do is to reach the Champions League spot. We know how many games we need to win and the players are determined to reach the level of football they need to be playing in it next season.”
After three successive defeats that produced calls for Houllier to go, Liverpool have rediscovered their edge in beating Leeds and Blackburn in a week.
A defiant Houllier said: “I still insist that the majority of our football this season has been good. It was a blip in losing at Portsmouth, plus another couple of games when we did not really finish things off. But I believe that the mobility, the passing and the creativity is coming from us.”
Liverpool have announced that Jamie Carragher and Chris Kirkland have signed new contracts, Carragher until 2005 and Kirkland to 2009. Houllier believes Steven Gerrard and Owen are not far behind in putting pen to paper.
He said: “There is some good work going on behind the scenes on Michael and Stevie. I will not give a time limit but I will say that talks are going on.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
