Liverpool badly need a victory

GERARD HOULLIER last night admitted he was ''desperate'' for a win to revive Liverpool's season and backed Emile Heskey and Chris Kirkland to help him get it.

Liverpool travel to a resurgent Charlton today already out of the Champions League and with just one point from their last four Premiership games. Defeat at home to bitter rivals Manchester United last weekend left them four points behind champions Arsenal at the top of the table, and eased Sir Alex Ferguson's side back into the title race.

A few weeks ago a trip to Charlton, then mired in the relegation battle, would have been seen as the perfect opportunity to pick up all three points and kick-start the Reds' championship challenge. With Alan Curbishley's men comfortably in mid-table on the back of three straight wins The Valley is no longer Houllier's idea of an easy away-day.