Liverpool bid for a four-year high in their high-noon collision at Leeds, with Gerard Houllier claiming the Yorkshire stars are not babies any more.

Liverpool, after five successive victories, need to repeat last season's win at Elland Road to equal the six-on-the-trot sequence they achieved in September 1996.

The Anfield chief, with a wry smile, claims he isn't taken in any more by his opposite number David O'Leary's claims that the Leeds young stars are still ''babies'' in Premiership terms.

Houllier said: ''Leeds have improved since we won there last season. They've got great experience from the Champions League and I've seen some of those ties and they have been outstanding.

''So I don't agree with David's assessment that his side are still babies at this level. They are babies no more and are a very competitive side these days so we know this will be one of our toughest away games.

''And I don't go along with the theory that Leeds are badly hit by injuries. We are missing Michael Owen and Jamie Redknapp, and Leeds will be virtually at full strength apart from Harry Kewell and Nigel Martyn.''

The only blips in Liverpool's form this term have been away defeats at Arsenal and Chelsea, sides who also consider themselves to be title contenders, so the Merseysiders will want to avoid a repeat of those worrying reverses.

Houllier, who will again be without Owen - expecting him to return next Thursday in the UEFA Cup away to Slovan Liberec - said: ''Arsenal beat us physically and Chelsea gave us a bit of a lesson, but we are in excellent form and we aim to keep that going.''

Houllier is also quick to defend Liverpool's physical approach to Wednesday's Worthington Cup match with Chelsea, in which Emile Heskey was sent off in the 2-1 extra-time triumph.

Houllier added: ''You have to be mentally and physically strong at this level, have no doubts that the top sides in this division maintain a very high level in terms of the physical demands but they add to that skill and tactical awareness.

''You need strength and character to show you can play the game, and I certainly don't feel we have overstepped the mark physically.''

Liverpool are determined to maintain their current golden streak, aiming to repeat last term's 2-1 early season win at Elland Road.

Skipper Sami Hyypia said: ''When we won there last season it was the turning point of our season.''

The game will also take Gary McAllister back to the club where he won a title medal in the early 90s and also re-acquaint Liverpool players with former team-mate Dominic Matteo, who switched to Leeds in the summer.

Houllier said: ''Dominic made a great contribution to the squad when he was here and I'm pleased to see him doing so well at Leeds.''

Hyypia added: ''It's not a problem when you play against friends and I did that also for Finland against England recently.''

Liverpool expect to recall all their big guns. Sander Westerveld, Christian Ziege, Heskey and McAllister all started Wednesday's Worthington Cup win over Chelsea on the bench, but can expect to be on from the start at Elland Road. Also returning should be Markus Babbel, who didn't even get on the bench against the Londoners