Houllier: We're ahead of schedule

The Reds boss suffered an onslaught of criticism after Liverpool finished the season in fifth place and missed out on a lucrative Champions League place. Houllier, though, believes last season ewas a minor setback to a team still moving forward at rapid speed.

Houllier told the club's official website: "My team started in 1999 because the team before was not really mine and that is when we started reconstructing and rebuilding a new team.

"Since then we have competed in four UEFA competitions, including two seasons in the Champions League. We have won six trophies and one of those was a major one in the UEFA Cup.

"Apart from Manchester United, over the last ten years we're the only English club to have won a European competition. So in four years we have won six trophies and we've played in the Champions League twice so we are slightly ahead of schedule.

"Now we need to have a further push because we have created expectations for the fans and we have to respond to that."