The review summarises the contributions of chemotherapy, interventional radiology and surgery to the improved survival observed in patients with colorectal liver metastases. The rationale in favour of modern neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens, of pro-generative manoeuvres to increase the volume of the future remnant liver, and of resection techniques that preserve its function is discussed. For advanced synchronous colorectal metastases, the arguments in favour of a reversed approach with systemic chemotherapy, liver surgery and colon surgery in that order, as opposed to the traditional approach of colon surgery first, or to a simultaneous liver and large bowel resection, are presented.