Houllier wants big games from Gerrard and Heskey

Gerard Houllier will look for inspiration from two of his other England stars for Liverpool’s salvation in the continued absence of Michael Owen.

The Liverpool boss wants new skipper Steven Gerrard and Owen’s front line replacement Emile Heskey to step into the breach in the absence of their top scorer.

Houllier takes his side to Barclaycard Premiership new-boys Portsmouth knowing Liverpool have never lost three successive matches in his near five years in command.

But having tasted defeat against Charlton and Arsenal in their last two league games, that disaster could be a very real prospect at Fratton Park against a Pompey side which includes Liverpool reject Patrik Berger.

Houllier said: “Michael will not make it with his shin injury – but we expect him back against Leeds next weekend. It has been an injury that was a bit worse than we first believed.”

Gerrard and Heskey were outstanding in the midweek UEFA Cup win over Olimpija Ljubljana and Houllier is looking for help now from Owen’s England pals.

The Frenchman added: “Emile scored an important goal in Europe this week for us, and when he starts scoring he seems to continue. I hope he does that against Portsmouth.

“For Emile this is an ideal time to show his worth because I value him a lot and I trust him. He has responded extremely well to the opportunity he has been given.”

Houllier, though, sees his new captain as the man to lead the drive to avoid what would be another damaging defeat, one which would wipe away the euphoria of the European success.

He continued: “If Steven continues to repeat the sort of performance he produced against Ljubljana, there is no doubt he will step up a level as a player.

“The worst thing for a player is when you start to be contented with what you have and what you do.

“This can be a cancer because it pulls your game down, that is the worst thing as a player.

“But I have seen many players of an certain age trying to improve all the time and Steven is one of them.”

He added: “He wants to develop his game even more and reach another level, to which he is coming to.

“If he continues to improve his game like he is he will continue to blossom as a player.

“But the captaincy has not been done because of his new contract. He knows we want him here and he wants to stay, just like Michael Owen, and in due time that will also be solved.”

The prospect of facing Berger, who had a long and successful spell at Anfield before taking a free transfer in the summer, adds spice to the occasion – and particularly for Berger’s Czech mate Vladimir Smicer.

Smicer, who is having a new lease of life in Liverpool’s midfield, said: “It is a very important game for us considering the fact we have already lost three games in the league.

“It is going to be a struggle to reach first place now but if we continue to play the good football we have been playing then we have every chance of being up there come the end of the season.”

Houllier could bring back Stephane Henchoz on the south coast after the Swiss defender’s recovery from an ankle problem.

He returned in that midweek 3-0 win as a late substitute with Igor Biscan, who has done a good job as his defensive replacement, moving into midfield.

Biscan could be asked to fill that midfield role again, with youngster Anthony Le Tallec dropping back to the bench.