Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has ruled out his team’s chances of a top-four finish following back-to-back losses against Manchester United and Arsenal feeling that the club now has “too much ground to make up” in order to qualify for Champions League football.
The Reds now find themselves seven points behind fourth place Manchester City after the 4-1 hammering they suffered yesterday against Arsenal at the Emirates.
Liverpool next play Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday night at Elwood Park in an FA Cup reply that Rodgers says is the clubs main priority.
He said: “The reaction and commitment of the players has been first class since (the defeat to Crystal Palace in November).
“Really, up until the Manchester United game we were the form team and playing very, very well.
“But we have been dealt two big blows in these last two games, we haven’t performed how we would like and that has ultimately cost us in terms of the result.
“I very much doubt we will be in the top four now come the end of the season. There’s too much ground to make up – that’s the realistic view from me.
“Now, we must really focus on the FA Cup and that has got to be very, very important for us.”
The Liverpool boss also said that all the talk of Raheem Sterling’s contract woes was not an excuse for the loss against Arsenal.
He said: “It’s not distractions, we were just poor defensively. You see from our record the last six games we haven’t conceded away from home.
“It’s just a disappointing day when you concede bad goals, you’re always going to be up against it against a team that’s obviously got good confidence.”
