Gerard Houllier's side were this week quoted as 50-1 outsiders to claim the title after a stuttering start to the season which has left them ten points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

For a club with Liverpool's history, such odds with only a quarter of the season gone are little short of insulting and Houllier is determined to turn last weekend's win over Leeds and the midweek victory over Blackburn into the start of a run that hauls his side back into contention.

Fulham are four points ahead of Liverpool in the table and their confidence is sky high after a 3-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

But Houllier believes his side are good enough to take all three points if they perform to their potential.

"We wanted to be back on the winning track after becoming frustrated about some of our earlier results this season," the French manager said.

"We needed to give a better account of ourselves and we now want to keep that going. Fulham will be a tough game as they have had a good start and are four points ahead of us in the table.

"However I don't want to focus on the opposition and it's what we do that counts."

Houllier has been cheered this week by the sight of influential midfielder Dietmar Hamann returning to action after surgery on his shin in the summer.

The German international, a key player in Houllier's first choice line-up, played for the final quarter hour against Blackburn and then came through 70 minutes of a reserves match on Thursday.

There was also good news with Jamie Carragher and goalkeeper Chris Kirkland both signing contract extensions that will keep them at the club until 2007 and 2009 respectively and Houllier is optimistic that Gerrard and Michael Owen will soon follow suit.

Owen made a scoring return to action against Leeds but he is doubt ful for the trip to Fulham because of a swollen ankle. Houllier will also make late decisions on the fitness of centreback Sami Hyypia (hamstring strain) and young striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle (dead leg).

Japan's Junichi Inamoto is suspended for Fulham and boss Chris Coleman could give transfer-listed Fulham midfielder Sean Davis his first start of the season.