Veteran defender Sami Hyypia has warned that the race for fourth spot in the Barclays Premier League is far from over despite last weekend's Merseyside derby success for Liverpool.
With the Reds' next top-flight clash back at Arsenal on Saturday, it underlines the fact that there is no room for complacency as they try to protect the five-point lead they have built up over Everton.
Hyypia was a key figure in Wednesday's 1-1 Champions League draw at Emirates Stadium, and he knows that Liverpool need to continue to pick up points if they are to hold off their neighbours and claim fourth spot.
Any slip-up at the Emirates - a more than difficult place to go at the best of times - will give Everton heart ahead of their home game with relegated Derby on Sunday, when Liverpool's lead could be cut to just two points.
Hyypia insists that Champions League qualification via the league is far from in the bag.
He said: "It's not over until May 11 (when Liverpool complete their league campaign with a trip to Tottenham).
"We need to make sure we get enough points to be in that fourth spot then."
Of that derby-day success, which leaves Liverpool five points ahead of Everton going into this weekend's games, Hyypia added: "Of course it was sweet. I know what it means to all the fans, so now they are all happy.
"It was a fair result. We had the game under control. It's a pity we didn't score more than one goal but one goal is enough."
The victory over Everton helped wipe away the bitter memories of the previous weekend's defeat by Manchester United.
Hyypia said: "That defeat by United brought us down a little bit. But we knew how important it was to take a five-point lead over Everton, and we had great confidence.
"Now we have Arsenal again next. They are a brilliant team at keeping the ball and passing it. They have great movement and are very dangerous, but I think we have enough quality in our team to be confident of containing them again."
Manager Rafael Benitez is likely to make changes for the second of three games against Arsenal, particularly after the effort his squad put in to claim Wednesday's draw.
It is possible he will rest Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres, and it is likely that Hyypia will also have a day on the bench.
The likes of Yossi Benayoun, Peter Crouch, Andriy Voronin, John Arne Riise and Alvaro Arbeloa could also figure. Javier Mascherano must sit out the first match of an additional two-game ban he has been handed by the Football Association following his sending off at Old Trafford.
With the Reds' next top-flight clash back at Arsenal on Saturday, it underlines the fact that there is no room for complacency as they try to protect the five-point lead they have built up over Everton.
Hyypia was a key figure in Wednesday's 1-1 Champions League draw at Emirates Stadium, and he knows that Liverpool need to continue to pick up points if they are to hold off their neighbours and claim fourth spot.
Any slip-up at the Emirates - a more than difficult place to go at the best of times - will give Everton heart ahead of their home game with relegated Derby on Sunday, when Liverpool's lead could be cut to just two points.
Hyypia insists that Champions League qualification via the league is far from in the bag.
He said: "It's not over until May 11 (when Liverpool complete their league campaign with a trip to Tottenham).
"We need to make sure we get enough points to be in that fourth spot then."
Of that derby-day success, which leaves Liverpool five points ahead of Everton going into this weekend's games, Hyypia added: "Of course it was sweet. I know what it means to all the fans, so now they are all happy.
"It was a fair result. We had the game under control. It's a pity we didn't score more than one goal but one goal is enough."
The victory over Everton helped wipe away the bitter memories of the previous weekend's defeat by Manchester United.
Hyypia said: "That defeat by United brought us down a little bit. But we knew how important it was to take a five-point lead over Everton, and we had great confidence.
"Now we have Arsenal again next. They are a brilliant team at keeping the ball and passing it. They have great movement and are very dangerous, but I think we have enough quality in our team to be confident of containing them again."
Manager Rafael Benitez is likely to make changes for the second of three games against Arsenal, particularly after the effort his squad put in to claim Wednesday's draw.
It is possible he will rest Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres, and it is likely that Hyypia will also have a day on the bench.
The likes of Yossi Benayoun, Peter Crouch, Andriy Voronin, John Arne Riise and Alvaro Arbeloa could also figure. Javier Mascherano must sit out the first match of an additional two-game ban he has been handed by the Football Association following his sending off at Old Trafford.
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