UEFA Cup / Steaua Bucharest v Liverpool: Liverpool have endured life without Michael Owen too frequently for comfort recently, but they must flourish without him tonight if their European aspirations are not to end as bruised as the striker's ankle.

"The others have to take responsibility," warned Gerard Houllier. "It's a chance for someone to make a hero of himself."

It is an opportunity that Emile Heskey or, if called on, Florent Sinama-Pongolle can ill afford to pass up even on an atrocious surface at the Steaua Stadium tonight.

Steaua Bucharest, domestic champions 21 times and European Cup winners in 1986, have built their reputation as an awkward defensive unit, yet Houllier still believes he has the resources to prosper.

"If, at the beginning of the season, someone had told me we'd be playing in Bucharest without Milan Baros and Michael Owen, I would have been worried," he said. "But sometimes one person's misfortune is another's good luck.

"Our style now allows more players to get into positions to finish. Emile's back to his best, we've also got Sinama and there's also Harry Kewell and Danny Murphy who are scoring at the moment. Stevie Gerrard will also score at some stage."

Heskey's resurgence and Sinama-Pongolle's promise offer most encouragement. The former was veering towards the fringes at Liverpool until last week's English League Cup tie at Blackburn. He scored twice in the 4-3 win, though his goals were sandwiched between implausible misses.

Heskey is a confidence player and, buoyed by his double, the volleyed goal at Fulham on Sunday suggested he is on a scoring burst capable of popping Steaua's bubble.

Sinama-Pongolle's elusive running earned decisive penalties in each, all of which offers hope tonight even if the 19-year-old starts on the bench.

"Sinama's not the finished article, but I spoke to him this week and told him he'd reached another level," said Houllier.

"He appears to be getting used to the physicality. He never expected to be playing in the UEFA Cup and preparing for a game with Manchester United so soon."

Sunday's contest at Anfield looms large and tonight will not be an ideal warm-up with an uneven pitch condemned as "awful" by Houllier.

Victor Piturca's side have already eliminated Southampton and the coach remarked: "I said I wanted to play another English team, but I meant Manchester City, not Liverpool. You look at their players and you feel respect, even fear."

But that was before Owen dropped out.

STEAUA BUCHAREST (3-5-2; probable): Hamutovski; Radoi; Rachita, Mutica; Dumitru, Paraschiv, Aliuta, Bostina, Stoica; Oprita, Raducanu.

LIVERPOOL (4-1-3-2; probable): Dudek; Finnan, Hyypia, Henchoz, Traore; Gerrard; Diouf, Murphy, Smicer; Kewell, Heskey.

Referee: S Farina (Italy).

Steaua Bucharest v Liverpool Steaua Stadium, 7.0 Soccer UEFA Cup