Finnan fuels Reds' pride

Steve Finnan admits that these are the sort of high-profile weeks which prompted his summer departure from Fulham to join Liverpool.

The Irish full-back is relishing the pressures of a Uefa Cup showdown with Steaua Bucharest and then a Premiership battle with Manchester United on Sunday.

"It is weeks like this that I came to Anfield for - the history of the club, its ambition and the high-profile nature of playing for Liverpool," Finnan said. "I am looking forward to the challenge.

"We are all disappointed we are not in the Champions' League, so we have to make sure we do well enough in the league to get back there."