"The players look very sharp in training but for some of our players the best is yet to come because of the World Cup," said Houllier.
"We have created more chances than practically every other side we have played against. It is when you don't create chances that you have a problem.
"Sometimes a side has a spell like this. In the second half against Charlton we had enough chances to have won the game. But there are periods when you don't score goals and this is one of those times.
"The players realise they have got the talent and the class but when you go through a difficult period the key ingredients to get out of that run are to stick together, remain strong mentally and keep working hard.
"We can't drop our standards in terms of work rate and commitment.
That is what we are doing but what we need is a very scrappy, ugly 1-0 win. The important thing is getting that first win."