Pool must rediscover ruthless streak, says Reds boss
Houllier insists his side are playing good enough football to mix it with the best, but is acutely aware that as long as chances continue to go begging, they will lose ground on the Premiership's pace-setters.
The Anfield side extended their run without a league win to six games at lowly Sunderland yesterday, and now lie fifth five points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
While that has not yet dealt a fatal blow to their hopes of winning their first championship in 13 years, any continuation will do so sooner rather than later.
Liverpool have collected just one point from their last six league outings, drawing at home to Sunderland and losing to Middlesbrough, Fulham, Manchester United, Charlton and the Wearsiders.
But if they are to take a leaf out of the book of Alex Ferguson's side, who have closed the gap on the Gunners to just a single point from the nine by which they trailed a few weeks ago, they must start to hit the back of the net with much more regularity.
United have not lost in nine games since the 3-1 derby defeat by Manchester City on November 9, taking 13 Premiership points from the 15 on offer and beating top-four rivals Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal along the way.
Significantly, they have scored 22 goals during that period with star striker Ruud van Nistelrooy plundering nine. By contrast, Liverpool's last nine games in all competitions have brought them just 10. Houllier is adamant he would be more concerned if his side was not creating chances, but admits the goals need to start flowing if they are to get their season back on track.
"We're not without any type of game construction, any type of football," he said. "We seem to be able to play and able to create chances.
"But don't forget that we've got to be patient. The strikers are very young. The good thing is that we create chances. If we didn't have any chances and our game, I would say, was deprived of any kind of imagination and creativity, then I would be worried.
"But we've got to be careful because of the confidence of the boys. You can't avoid being a bit uptight and tense when you play well and you don't get your chances in.
"I personally think that once we win a good game, it will give a bit of fresh air for everybody.
Michael Owen, Milan Baros and substitute El Hadji Diouf were the men charged with the task of firing their side to victory at Sunderland, but a combination of some slightly inaccurate finishing and the heroics of Black Cats keeper Jurgen Macho kept them at bay.
The Austrian saved superbly from Baros, Danny Murphy and Owen, and although the Czech eventually beat him to set up a barnstorming finish, the Reds were left to rue missed opportunities once again.
"Milan maybe could have kept the ball," Houllier said. "He created some chances. He had one in the first-half and a couple more in the second-half. Danny had some as well.
"When you have so many chances away from home, you have to take them."
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