Down to wire, says Houllier

GERARD HOULLIER is tipping the race for fourth to go down to their May 15 meeting with Newcastle at Anfield.

The Liverpool manager had an afternoon to remember on Saturday as Danny Murphy became the first opposition player to score a Premiership penalty at Old Trafford in a decade to seal victory in a closely-fought battle of the north-west giants.

Yet even as Houllier was striding into a rare shaft of sunshine in a season of almost unrelenting gloom at England's most successful club, he wondered out loud whether the Reds would have cause to regret their earlier failings against some of the top-flight's lesser lights. No team that can beat Chelsea and Manchester United on their travels should find themselves scrapping for crumbs, some 30 points adrift of the champions.

But the euphoria at Liverpool's defeat of their fierce north-west rivals was quickly stifled by Newcastle's comeback win over Chelsea at St James' Park that reinstalled the Magpies as favourites to land the coveted final Champions League berth.

Still a game in hand of the Reds, Bobby Robson's men may only require a draw when they head to Anfield for the final-day showdown. Houllier knows his own future is at severe risk unless he can with the fight for fourth spot and he just hopes his side will not be left cursing their luck when the season finally draws to a close.

"There will be a few twists and turns before the whole thing is decided but I don't think it will be completely finished until the final day," said the Frenchman.