Liverpool will almost certainly clinch a place in the Champions League next season if they win tonight against Chelsea at Anfield. Liverpool, emphatic 3-0 winners against Newcastle at the weekend, face Charlton in their final league game on May 19th.

But before that they meet Arsenal in the FA Cup final on Saturday followed by the UEFA Cup showdown against Alaves of Spain four days later. Houllier is anxious not to get side-tracked before the two big games and insists that the clash with Chelsea is the only one that counts at the moment.

"We do not speak about the cup finals," he said. "You have to take each game one by one in our situation. The Chelsea game is crucial because the season is coming to an end and we know where we want to be and that is Europe and the Champions League. We have a good goal difference at the moment, but I am by nature a very cautious man."

Gerard Houllier may be tempted to field the side that overwhelmed Newcastle, with Michael Owen getting all three goals.