Houllier dismisses doom merchants as Auxerre prepare to unleash Cisse

Gerard Houllier habitually describes Liverpool's disappointments as blessings in disguise. So well camouflaged have these blessings been lately that, on the eve of tonight's visit by the French side Auxerre for the second leg of a fourth-round Uefa Cup tie which his team enter leading 1-0, Houllier was moved to mount a "crisis-what-crisis?" defence of his managerial tenure.

Confirming suspicions that he is an avid and sensitive reader of press coverage, Houllier revealed that he had been struck by an article in Birmingham City's programme for his team's 2-1 defeat at St Andrew's last Sunday. The opening sentence, noted the Frenchman, read: "Liverpool are a club in crisis."

Houllier added: "It went on to say that we had finished fourth, third and then second in three seasons; that we managed to win five trophies; that we played Champions' League football on two occasions; and that we are just about to play our third domestic cup final in three years [in the Worthington Cup against Manchester United next Sunday]. What a crisis it's been!

By the standards of any other club, with two exceptions, Liverpool's season is replete with exciting possibilities. Yet it is safe to say that supporters expected more than a Uefa Cup run and a tilt at the lesser of the domestic knock-out trophies when they led the Premiership by seven points last autumn. Increasingly, a Champions' League place looks beyond them; worse, it could go to Everton.

Victory over Auxerre would not, in itself, assuage Liverpool's sceptical faction. However, it could give the League campaign impetus if it were to be backed up by the defeat of United. When Houllier's friend, the veteran coach Guy Roux, last brought his club to Anfield, in the Cup-Winners' Cup a decade ago, there was also talk of crisis. Graeme Souness' side had succumbed 2-0 away, but a cacophonous crowd and a performance of fierce intensity saw them prevail 3-0. If Houllier is to enjoy similar catharsis, Michael Owen may need to show the sharpness he displayed at Birmingham. The England striker needs one goal to equal the club's European record of 20.

Auxerre's French international striker Djibril Cisse missed the first leg, but Houllier played down the significance of his certain return, saying: "We know all about his pace and we know all about how powerful he is. He is also a good goalscorer and is a threat. But we have Emile Heskey and Michael Owen in attack."

Liverpool will have Steven Gerrard and El-Hadji Diouf back from suspension, while Stéphane Henchoz is expected to return from an ankle injury.