Liverpool ready to take final step to title

But the Frenchman also knows that the ultimate yardstick for a club with a record 18 League titles is to finish their campaign at the top of the table. It is now 13 seasons since Liverpool last won the league and the supporters have not enjoyed the dominance of Manchester United and Arsenal. Now they feel Liverpool are a match for their main rivals over the long haul and Houllier has tapped into their thinking by saying that the League is his top priority. A 2-1 win over AC Milan in a pre-season friendly in Spain gave Houllier a reminder of the excitement to come in the Champions League but the Frenchman preferred to concentrate on domestic matters.

“This year the Premiership is our priority. Europe comes second,” he said. “We’ve increased expectation in the squad and with our fans that we can win the title because when you finish fourth, then third, then second, everybody is looking for what comes next. “Winning the Premiership will be a hallmark of our success and there is a real hunger amongst the players to do it.

“I have a team that, when they want something, they get it. We can be awesome, we can be unbreakable, we can be unstoppable.” Houllier admitted his early years at the club were geared to success in Europe, achieved notably with that 2001 UEFA Cup win. But he added: “It took me a time to realise what winning the Premiership and the FA Cup means to English players.

“There is no doubt we can win the league if we are injury-free.” The qualification is important as Houllier has had to come to terms with the gruelling nature of the domestic season. A year ago, after the club’s trophy treble, Houllier failed to add to his squad. A long run of injuries then left him short at vital moments as their title challenge faded. (Reuters)