Houllier: Euro experience will see us through

GERARD HOULLIER believes Liverpool’s European experience will help them return to the Champions League. Liverpool face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in a crucial final match of the season needing a victory to reach the Champions League or face a consolation prize of UEFA Cup football.

And Liverpool boss Houllier believes his side's European experience this season they have played 12 ties in two competitions will give them the edge over a Chelsea team who were knocked out in the first round of the UEFA Cup by Viking Stavanger.

The Frenchman said: "I hope our European experience will help us in this situation. We've been to many countries and performed well in recent seasons."

That resilience abroad will be harnessed by Liverpool as they bid to save their erratic season on a ground where they have won only twice in the last 24 years.

But Houllier said: "The good thing is that we know what we have to do. This is not a position where we are caught between two stools.

"A few people have said to me that it is better for us to be going to Chelsea knowing we have to win.

"I recall a few seasons ago at Bradford on the last day we needed only to draw to get into the Champions League but we lost the game, this time we know only a win will do."

And Houllier contests Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri's view that Chelsea deserve to be in the Champions League. The Italian has said: "We deserve to achieve a result against Liverpool, and I hope along with the fans, that we can do it.

"We deserve to achieve that result. It's very important for everybody: fans, players, me, the club, everybody."

Houllier, not surprisingly, does not see it that way and claims Liverpool's daunting season that has seen them play 59 matches so far, gives them the right to a Champions League place.

He said: "I think we deserve it more than any other team. The reasons are we have played 12 European games and had a good campaign in the Worthington Cup.

"No team in the Premiership can have earned a place in the Champions League more than us. I mean it, we have shown our mental strength.

"A month ago it didn't look as if we had a chance, but now we are one game away and we still have everything to play for."

Liverpool will be without Vladimir Smicer with a calf injury, while Dietmar Hamann is still having treatment on his shin problem.

Steven Gerrard, who suffered a hip injury in last weekend's defeat by Manchester City, will be fit in time.