Houllier: Duo have nothing to prove to me

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier is banking on Emile Heskey and Vladimir Smicer to take their good pre-season form into the new campaign.

Both players chipped in with three goals each during the club’s two games in Thailand and Hong Kong.

“Emile and Vladi don’t have anything to prove to us because we know their worth and that is why they are Liverpool players,” said Houllier.

“I think they would be the first to admit that they didn’t have a satisfactory season last year.

“That was frustrating for them, for us and for the fans.

“But now they seem to be injury free and I hope they can keep performing as they have been so far in pre-season.”

Houllier is comfortable with the way Liverpool are progressing ahead of the new season.

“We turned in two good performances – better performances than when we were last in the Far East in 2001, “ he told www.liverpoolfc.tv.

“From a football point of view the boys did well. We scored nine goals and conceded just one.

“We need to do more in terms of match fitness and we need to continue to work on the tactical aspects of our game, but we are getting there.”