UEFA CUP: Danny Murphy insists it is time for Liverpool's stars to stand up and be counted - and if they cannot handle the pressure, they should not be there.

Liverpool face the severest of tests in a four-day spell which will define their season, with Sunday's English League Cup final against Manchester United following tonight's second leg crunch tie with Auxerre.

Lose one, and Murphy and his team-mates will face a desperate time trying to salvage something from the wreckage of a campaign they started believing glory in the Premiership and Champions League could be achieved.

Those two prizes are now beyond them, but with a 1-0 lead from in France last week, Euro success is still realistic, although Murphy knows Liverpool must put Sunday's defeat at Birmingham behind them quickly.

"It's down to us as players to produce more week-in week-out, rather than playing well one game and then not the next," he said. "Playing for Liverpool brings its own pressures. We want to succeed and being at a club like this that's what's expected from you.

"If you can't deal with that then you shouldn't be here. I wouldn't hide behind whether there's too much pressure, we are paid well and expected to go out and win games.

"You expect it of yourselves, the staff expect it and the fans expect it, so you have got to do it.

"There's no point looking for excuses, you've just got to go out and perform to the best of your ability."

Liverpool welcome back Steven Gerrard and El Hadji Diouf from suspension while defender Stephane Henchoz has recovered from his ankle problem.

But much will depend on Murphy, who continued: "These are four big days where there's the chance to progress in Europe, win some silverware, and gain some confidence.

"We still have a lot to play for in the Premiership as well - we feel that reaching the Champions League is very realistic still.

"The Auxerre game means a lot because we know what it's like to win the UEFA Cup, and speaking for myself, it was one of the best experiences of my career.

"And it's also important to win games because that's what breeds confidence.

"We feel we have done better and played better in the last month or so - I don't think that things are as drastic as is being made out.

"But we have missed key players like Steven Gerrard and Dietmar Hamann - two of the best midfielders in Europe. That would be tough on anyone."

Auxerre, under the leadership of Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier's friend Guy Roux, will have French international striker Djibril Cisse back from suspension, and Murphy accepts that he will need close attention.

"Cisse is electric, he's quick, with an eye for goal. He will have our respect. But Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz have dealt with the best in Europe and are very capable.

"We have honest players who will hold up their hands and accept when things are wrong, but we also have people who will give their all to turn things around.

"We expect more of ourselves. I'm always trying to improve, to turn things around.

"Inevitably you are disappointed when things don't go how you want them to, we set our targets and standards high and when you don't live up to them you are disappointed.

"But there are still positives for us. We are still going on three fronts and it's up to us to get it right over the next few days."