Exclusive by Phil McNulty Chief football writer

I laugh when people say I should lose my job Gerard Houllier

Houllier also fired a defiant message to the critics who believe his job should be on the line after Liverpool's Premiership title challenge faded and they made an early Champions League exit.

In an exclusive interview with this website, Houllier said he intends to inject ready-made top-flight quality into his squad, with Fulham's Steve Finnan and Blackburn winger Damien Duff top transfer targets.

He told BBC Sport: "I can't wait to start next season. I have never been so busy.

"Normally at the end of the season I have a rest, but I am working hard because this pre-season is vital and I'm already working on bringing players in.

"Since the game at Chelsea I have been working more than ever. Winning the title is our vision and that can be achieved."

Houllier continued: "It was a very strange season.

Winning the title is our vision and that can be achieved Gerard Houllier

"The positives were that we had a blistering start and also recovered towards the end to put ourselves in with a chance of the Champions League.

"And winning the Worthington Cup was something special because it was against a full Manchester United side who were really up for it. They wanted to win that trophy, make no mistake.

"Also winning the derby at Everton was special because we won it in adversity - without Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz. It was a good moment."

But Houllier admitted Liverpool were undermined by poor home form and inconsistency from key players.

He said: "The low was the Champions League exit in Basle.

"Then the fact that we had a very lengthy period without a win cost us the Champions League spot.

"Our home form let us down. In many games we went ahead and allowed the opposition to equalise. We took the lead and didn't manage to keep it, which was not like us."

We are victims of our own success, we have raised expectations from everyone Gerard Houllier

Houllier added: "We also lacked consistency because of a lack of form from key players at some times - we have to admit that.

"It was a key factor, whether it was the goalkeeper, or the centre-backs, where Stephane Henchoz played only 30 games out of 60.

"Sometimes it was in midfield when Steven Gerrard had a bad spell, or then when Didi Hamman was injured."

But Houllier rounded on critics who say Liverpool's Premiership and Champions League failures should cost him his job.

He said: "I laugh when people say I should lose my job.

"If I had said four years ago that we would be in contention to reach the Champions League every season, win the Uefa Cup, win the FA Cup and the Worthington Cup, then you would have taken that.

"If I had said we would win six trophies you would have taken that. We are victims of our own success, we have raised expectations from everyone - but we accept that and we live with it."