"We have suffered badly from missed penalties this season," said Houllier after the game.
"The lads decided among themselves on the pitch, it is up to them. If Michael Owen had wanted to take it that would not have been a problem by me.
"We must still keep battling on, it is not over yet. Let's wait and see what the result is at Villa, it could still go our way."
He added: "We must still keep battling on, it is not over yet. Let's wait and see what the result is at Villa, it could still go our way."