"...we did not
deserve to lose."
                Gerard Houllier

MARCH 29
Carragher: No excuses if we fail

LFC Official Website

Jamie Carragher says Liverpool will have no excuses if they don't qualify for next season's Champions League.

With five of their remaining eight games to be played at Anfield, Carragher says the onus is firmly on the Reds to banish Sunday's disappointment at Leicester and consolidate their fourth place position in the Premiership.

Carragher said: "There won't be any excuses if we don't do it now. We've got five home games and three away. In our position, anyone would take that for the run-in.

"If we win those home games and pick up points away from home that would probably be enough, although we'll be going out to win every match.

"It was a disappointing result to draw at Leicester and no-one will try and disguise that. But let's not forget that we're now in a better position than we were before the game.

"It may only be a slight consolation, but come the end of the season this could prove to be a very important point.

"When you look at the games we've got left, I'm sure everyone will think that apart from Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle, there aren't many tough matches. But it probably won't work out that way.

"We may perform better against the teams nearer the top. Ever since I've been in the first team we've seemed to rise to the occasion against the big teams."

MARCH 29
It's all in hand, says Houllier

By John Curtis - PA Sport

Gerard Houllier has insisted that Liverpool's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are "in our own hands" as they cemented their current grip on fourth place with a share of the spoils at Leicester City.

What might have normally been frustration at letting two points slip against a bottom-three side was tempered by the fact that their closest rivals Newcastle were beaten at Bolton.

And, with five of their last eight games at home including Newcastle and fellow Euro hopefuls Charlton, Houllier knows that the Reds are in control of their own destiny.

Houllier said: "I do not see the Leicester game as a bad result but we did miss an opportunity to extend the lead between ourselves and Newcastle.

"But then I read one report this week that we were a long way off a side that could finish in fourth place. Maybe they didn't know that we were fourth!

"We are there at the moment, we have got nearly everyone back and available and I think we will get better.

"We have got five games to come at home, with Newcastle and Charlton amongst them. The future is in our own hands. We know what we have to do. We have eight finals to play."

One major absentee was Michael Owen and Houllier will assess the fitness of the England striker before the next game with Blackburn on Sunday before deciding if he can return from a hamstring problem.

Liverpool could have done with Owen's predatory instincts to convert the chances that came their way with Milan Baros spurning the best of them in the second period.

But Houllier also felt that the effects of the Reds' UEFA Cup clash in Marseille on Thursday evening took their toll by the end of the game.

He said: "We played for an hour or so on Thursday with 10 men against 11 and at times we lacked a bit of freshness.

"But we still created chances in both halves and I thought we over-run Leicester for most of the game.

"Milan had the best of those chances and if he had put that one away then it would have been recognised as a great goal at the end of a great move."

Leicester proved determined opponents and nearly snatched victory in the closing seconds when Muzzy Izzet shot wide from close range.

But Ben Thatcher also forced Jerzy Dudek to make two stinging saves from powerfully struck free-kicks in the second period.

Foxes manager Micky Adams said: "I was pleased with a point as it kept our unbeaten run going (six games) but I was more pleased with the application of the players and the way they went about their business.

"We changed things around at half-time to cope with Liverpool's shape and the second half performance was excellent.

"There were not many chances in the game but we possibly had the best opportunity through Muzzy to win it right at the death. On another day that goes in and you pick up three points.

"I think the fans will be happy with that performance. We are still third from bottom but I am not too worried at this stage because we are now within three points of teams we still have to play.

"That was a point that not too many would have given us a chance of picking up so we are pleased. and now it is onto the next game."

MARCH 28
Houllier: This isn't a bad result

LFC Official Website

Gerard Houllier declared himself very satisfied with the performance of his Liverpool team at relegation haunted Leicester City, and said 0-0 is not a bad result.

The manager was at pains to point out that his players deserve a lot of credit for their performance as they were tired and mentally drained after the trip to Marseille.

Houllier felt Liverpool dominated the match and should have won the game.

Houllier said: "Listen, when you have to travel for a game away in Europe midweek then you have to travel again on the Sunday it is difficult and tiring.

"You just don't have the same spark and this isn't a bad result. I would say it is just a missed opportunity to extend the lead over Newcastle.

"We dominated the match and had the chances to win it. Leicester had a chance to win it at the end but that would have been very unfair as we did not deserve to lose."

MARCH 28
Reds held by Leicester

BBC Sport Online

Liverpool consolidated their hold on the fourth Champions League place with a goalless draw against Leicester.

Gerard Houllier's side had the better of a disjointed game but were thwarted by Ian Walker in the Leicester goal.

Walker denied Steven Gerrard and Dietmar Hamann, though the goalkeeper could only watch in relief as a Bruno Cheyrou effort hit the woodwork.

Leicester's best efforts came from Les Ferdinand and Paul Dickov, which were comfortably dealt with by Jerzy Dudek.

Struggling to avoid relegation, Leicester started brightly, forcing three corners in the first five minutes but Liverpool coped easily with Muzzy Izzet's crosses.

A long clearance from Walker almost let in Dickov as it sailed over Jamie Carragher's head and Dudek had to react quickly to foil the Scottish international.

Liverpool also looked dangerous from set-pieces and Igor Biscan went narrowly wide with a header from Milan Baros' corner.

As the game developed, Steven Gerrard emerged as Liverpool's dominant force.

As well as linking the play he also hit the side netting with a powerful shot and brought a low save from Walker with a fierce effort.

Walker was then relieved to tip over a dipping Hamann volley which bounced awkwardly in front of him.

In a rare Leicester raid Ferdinand surged into the Liverpool penalty area after collecting a Marcus Bent pass but his low shot was saved by Dudek.

Within two minutes of the restart a Cheyrou effort crashed against the angle of post and crossbar after Baros had laid the ball into his path.

Harry Kewell then sent a dipping angled drive just wide of the far post after Emile Heskey had won the ball in the air.

Leicester retaliated through Izzet and Dudek parried away the Turkish international's long-range drive.

Liverpool also gave away a succession of free-kicks around their box and from one of them Dudek beat out a Ben Thatcher shot.

Leicester finished strongly with Dudek beating out another Thatcher free-kick and Izzet turning Freund's cross wide.