Houllier aiming to silence Gunners in season curtain-raiser

Liverpool coach Gerard Houllier refuses to take Sunday's Community Shield clash against Arsenal lightly and expects his players to treat the season curtain-raiser at the Millennium Stadium like a final.

Formerly known as the Charity Shield, the Community Shield is contested by the reigning English champions and the FA Cup winners a week before the English Premiership season begins. Because Arsenal won both trophies last campaign, they must play league runners-up Liverpool.

Houllier, nevertheless, is determined to hang on to the Shield his team won last season with a 2-1 victory over Manchester United.

"Sunday is very important to me," Houller told the club's official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.

"This match is more than just a friendly. First of all it represents the start of the football season. The Community Shield is like a final. There is a trophy at stake and we are the holders.

"I consider this to be a very important game. It is one I want to win, and I believe the players do, too."

Looking ahead to the new season, Houllier said several teams will be pushing Arsenal for the championship this time around.

"There won't be just Arsenal - I think there will be the usual suspects up there such as Manchester United, Leeds, Chelsea, Newcastle and, I hope, ourselves," said the Frenchman.

"There is also always one team which surprises. Last season it was Newcastle. I think they will finish high again."

Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia believes the Merseysiders, who finished seven points behind Arsenal, can go one better and snatch the title from Arsene Wenger's men.

"We have improved our position in the league in the last two seasons. We were second last season and now it's time to win the league," said the powerful Finnish international.

"For English people in general winning the Premiership is the highest honour you can win in football. For the fans and the club it is better to win the Premiership rather than the Champions League."

On Sunday Arsenal manager Wenger could give Gilberto Silva his first outing, provided the Brazilian receives international clearance in time.

But even if the World Cup winner does get the green light, Wenger is still concerned about the former Atletico Mineiro player's fitness.

"We need the international clearance to register him with the Football Association (FA)," Wenger told the Evening Standard on Friday.

"It's a formality and just a matter of timing, but even if he is registered in time, I won't decide whether to start with him until Sunday morning.

"He hasn't had the benefit of a full pre-season programme like most of the other players and I need to be sure about his physical condition."

Wenger said great things will be expected this season of Silva, who was one of the outstanding midfielders at this summer's World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

"I've no doubt about his ability," Wenger added. "I think he will be a very influential figure in what is going to be a demanding season for us."

Although defensive duo Tony Adams and Lee Dixon have now retired and goalkeeper Richard Wright has moved to Everton, Wenger is convinced his squad is now stronger following the signings of Silva, centre-half Pascal Cygan from Lille and Fabian Carini from Juventus on a 12-month loan deal.

"We have the players and the experience to defend the league title," he said.

Arsenal will be without Swede Freddie Ljungberg, Dutchman Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Frenchman Robert Pires who are all nursing long-term injuries while Nigerian star Nwankwo Kanu is ruled out after twisting his ankle in a pre-season friendly.

For Liverpool, Portugese international Abel Xavier is very doubtful after damaging his ankle while Finnish striker Jari Litmanen is still struggling with a knee problem.

Recent injury victims Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard are all likely to be involved at some stage of the game, along with Markus Babbel, now fully recovered from a life-threatening virus.

New signing Salif Diao, a sensation for Senegal at the World Cup, has not yet received international clearance and may have to wait until next week to make his Liverpool debut.