Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier expressed his immense relief after his side's 1-0 victory against Vitesse Arnhem in the Uefa Cup.

Michael Owen scored the winner in Holland as Liverpool ended a run of four games without a win in the first leg of their third round tie.

"I'm very, very happy with the result," said Houllier.

Houllier knows the win could be vital before playing Man Utd

"When you are going through the sort of patch we have been in you need results like this to rebuild confidence.

"This sort of performance will work in our favour in the games ahead.

"We had gone four without a win and it was good to see the side back on the right winning track again.

"I want to emphasise just how much effort the players put in, they were all prepared to go that extra bit for the team.

"It may not have been a flowing performance, but we won and that's all that matters at times like this.

The players showed resilience, commitment and a great attitude Gerard Houllier

"Considering the adversity we have suffered, a win away from home in Europe will do much to build our confidence.

"And it could easily have been three or four, the number of chances we had.

"Michael Owen could have gone home with the match ball on another occasion had he not found their keeper in such good form."

Houllier added: "The players showed resilience, commitment and a great attitude.

"But we can't get carried away; the clich� is that it's only half-time and we are very aware of that.

"Arnhem are a good side, they put Werder Bremen out in the last round and they (Bremen) are among the top sides in the current German league."