Houllier set to stick with winning formula
Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier is unlikely to change the side that won at Birmingham last Saturday in one of the club’s best performances of the season.
The visit of Newcastle on the final day of the campaign was to have been a winner-takes-all showdown for a place in the Champions League, but the Magpies failed to win at Southampton on Wednesday to keep the race alive and will now have to witness Anfield fans celebrating their return to Europe’s elite competition.
Houllier only has Vladimir Smicer (knee) and Chris Kirkland (wrist) on the long-term injury list, while Stephane Henchoz missed the Birmingham victory with a groin problem and is unlikely to dislodge Jamie Carragher from the centre of defence even if he is declared fit.
Provisional squad: Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Kewell, Hamann, Gerrard, Murphy, Owen, Heskey, Luzi, Baros, Biscan, Cheyrou, Pongolle, Henchoz, Le Tallec.
