Tomorrow is another day
Last updated : 22 February 2004 By Gary Purvis
Richard Hughes' second half goal gave Pompey victory in the fifth round replay as they held on to claim a quarter-final home tie with Arsenal.
"Over the last two games I think we had enough chances to go through," said Houllier after the game. "We just have to blame ourselves for missed and wasted chances.
"Apart from that I think we played well. They put a lot of effort and energy into the game.
"I don't think Portsmouth had a chance until they scored the goal apart from the beginning of the first half and I think we just have to blame ourselves for that.
"When you can't score you have to keep a clean sheet and i don't think we should have lost that game.
"It's maybe a lack of clinical finishing because of a lack of confidence in the recent game because in a lot of games we dominated as we did today but didn't finish.
"We would have preferred to stay in the FA Cup because the longer you stay in cup competitions the better it is for the moral of the team and the confidence."
Michael Owen missed a penalty to put Liverpool ahead in the game, but Houllier refuses to blame his striker.
"Sometimes you score and sometimes you miss," he added. "I thought he could have done better but like the rest of the team his effort was there and he created chances and could have even scored an equaliser at the end.
"I think Hislop made a good save as he did a couple of times in the first game at Anfield.
"We are disappointed but we are strong enough but the good thing in football is that in four days we've got the opportunity to put things right.
"We have a good European tie in Sofia on Thursday and I'm sure the boys will prove a point and prove their worth.
"The good thing about our players is that they quickly forget about their performance. Like me they are disappointed, but tomorrow is another day and we will prepare for the Sofia game."
