Heskey has a chance to repay the boss

Gerard Houllier could well be drawn towards the inevitable conclusion that Emile Heskey owes him a match-winning performance tonight.

The Liverpool manager broke the habit of a lifetime last Friday by confirming on the day before a game that Heskey would spearhead his side's formation against Arsenal in the FA Cup Final.

He declared that Heskey brought 'something different' to the team and was established as first-choice striker.

Yet the fact remains that the club are two thirds of the way towards a cup treble due largely to the efforts of Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler.

The unsettled Fowler volleyed a spectacular Worthington Cup Final goal against Birmingham and kept his nerve in the penalty shoot-out, while Owen produced a great solo performance to win the FA Cup.

Heskey's contribution on Saturday was so negligible that it provoked a sharp rebuke from former Liverpool skipper Graeme Souness. Tonight would appear the perfect occasion for Heskey to make his mark in a major final, although he is less certain of a starting role as Houllier ponders a recall for Fowler alongside Owen.

But Houllier has no misgivings about his £11million record signing. He said: 'All I know is that Emile has done a tremendous job for us this season, and the statistics back that up.

'I was supposed to have taken leave of my senses by paying all that money for a player who could not score goals, yet look at him now.

'Who would have believed a year ago that he would be coming towards the end of a tough campaign with 20 goals to his name?

'That shows how much he has developed over the course of the season and there is more to come from him.

'He is a man I believe in and he would not score 20 goals - all of them without the aid of penalties or free-kicks, don't forget - without having a physical presence.'