Gerrard fears failure

Gerrard's comments are in strong contrast to those of his club manager Gerard Houllier. The Reds boss had insisted that Worthington Cup success over Manchester United meant that his side had 'done well' this season. An uncompromising Gerrard, though, has made it clear that such platitudes will mean little if Liverpool do not defeat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

Gerrard said: "All of us will be distraught if we are not in the Champions League. I don't want to be playing in the Uefa Cup next season. I'm desperate to win at Chelsea, the Champions League is the competition we all want to be in.

"I don't want to have to sit at home watching all those other teams in it again. As far as I'm concerned, the Chelsea game is more important than the Worthington Cup final.

"My view is that if we don't win at Chelsea then the season is a failure. Others might say we have got into Europe and won a trophy, but I feel we set higher targets for ourselves than that.''