Gerard Houllier hopes that yesterday’s Worthington Cup success will provide the impetus for Liverpool to earn a top-four finish and another crack at the Champions League.

Liverpool’s 2-0 win over arch-rivals Mannchester United, brought the first domestic trophy of the season to Anfield and Houllier hopes the success will inspire his players for the remainder of the season. .

‘We will probably get a bit of relief now and we can play in Premiership with less pressure on us because we know we are in Europe,’ he stated.

‘We’ve got 10 games to play for. We’ll give it our best shot to finish the season as we usually do. In the last two seasons, we’ve come good at the end.’

Liverpool currently lie seventh in the Premeir League, seven points adrift of the fourth Champions League spot, but Houllier is looking for a repeat of tjeir form two seasons ago when success in the Worthington Cup was followed by a revival in their league form.

‘Some players were under pressure and their manager was supposedly under pressure, but that was not from the board,’ observed Houllier.

‘I came back from my heart operation almost a year ago and what we have achieved since then is not too bad.

‘We finished second last season and have now won a trophy. We’re still in the UEFA Cup so let’s keep it going.’