Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool will find their way into the top four by the end of the season - if they can keep people fit.
The Anfield skipper, speaking ahead of Sunday's crucial home clash with Arsenal, is determined to raise spirits after the club's disastrous plunge out of the Champions League.
Gerrard has proved his fitness after a groin problem by playing four full matches since his return from injury, and that total would have been five had Alberto Aquilani, not been summoned to replace him against Debrecen in Budapest in the final minute.
Now Gerrard must turn his attention to salvaging Liverpool's Premier League campaign, particularly in a vital run of 11 matches before the Reds enter the Europa League in February.
And the midfielder sees the returning Fernando Torres as the key to a Liverpool revival.
Gerrard said: "If we get back to our full-strength team, and we get people fit, we're confident we are good enough to finish in the top four.
"Torres' return is massive for me, massive for everyone else. He's our main man, he's our top scorer and we need him back fit and firing.
"If that happens I'm sure we'll move back up the league and get in to the top four places. Without a doubt that has to be the main aim this season."
Liverpool fans saw a hint of the future during the 2-1 home defeat by Fiorentina on Wednesday, as the Merseysiders slipped out of Europe's elite after their final group E match.
Gerrard, Torres and Aquilani joined forces during the second-half for the first time and the passing, movement and understanding between the trio must have lightened boss Rafael Benitez's mood.
Gerrard said: "It's obviously important for the club financially (to be in the top four) and having played in the Champions League for such a long time, I'm desperate to play in it again next season.
"In the six games prior to the Fiorentina defeat we had gone unbeaten, including three successive clean sheets. We have been improving.
"It was a shame we lost it at the end, because we wanted to use the game to prepare for Sunday.
"But we will be right up for the Arsenal match. If we can get three points there and then take that into the Wigan home game next Wednesday, we can turn a corner."
Benitez could well use Gerrard, Torres and Aquilani against the Gunners, and the Spaniard agrees with his captain that Liverpool will end the season in the top four.
Benitez said: "This season's race for the top four is good for the fans, for TV and for neutrals. If you have just one club trying to break into the top four it is not so exciting.
"Now there are three, at least, trying to get into the top group and that makes everything more exciting. And that helps everyone because all teams will lose more games in the race.
"Even Chelsea and Manchester United, who are both very strong, are also losing games.
"But I feel it will still be the same top four at the end of the season.
"We have options now. We have Aquilani, (Javier) Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Torres all to chose from. It is not a question of someone being left out, more a question of having choices for a change.
"We are better than we look, now we have three quality players all available and all fit. Now let's see whether we can improve our position and get into the top four.
"We will be there (in the top four). Arsenal will do that too. We can improve, we can be in the top four and we can win a trophy. It is only what you would expect from a top side.
"We have had a bad spell but we are still very close to the top four and our top players are now available."
The Anfield skipper, speaking ahead of Sunday's crucial home clash with Arsenal, is determined to raise spirits after the club's disastrous plunge out of the Champions League.
Gerrard has proved his fitness after a groin problem by playing four full matches since his return from injury, and that total would have been five had Alberto Aquilani, not been summoned to replace him against Debrecen in Budapest in the final minute.
Now Gerrard must turn his attention to salvaging Liverpool's Premier League campaign, particularly in a vital run of 11 matches before the Reds enter the Europa League in February.
And the midfielder sees the returning Fernando Torres as the key to a Liverpool revival.
Gerrard said: "If we get back to our full-strength team, and we get people fit, we're confident we are good enough to finish in the top four.
"Torres' return is massive for me, massive for everyone else. He's our main man, he's our top scorer and we need him back fit and firing.
"If that happens I'm sure we'll move back up the league and get in to the top four places. Without a doubt that has to be the main aim this season."
Liverpool fans saw a hint of the future during the 2-1 home defeat by Fiorentina on Wednesday, as the Merseysiders slipped out of Europe's elite after their final group E match.
Gerrard, Torres and Aquilani joined forces during the second-half for the first time and the passing, movement and understanding between the trio must have lightened boss Rafael Benitez's mood.
Gerrard said: "It's obviously important for the club financially (to be in the top four) and having played in the Champions League for such a long time, I'm desperate to play in it again next season.
"In the six games prior to the Fiorentina defeat we had gone unbeaten, including three successive clean sheets. We have been improving.
"It was a shame we lost it at the end, because we wanted to use the game to prepare for Sunday.
"But we will be right up for the Arsenal match. If we can get three points there and then take that into the Wigan home game next Wednesday, we can turn a corner."
Benitez could well use Gerrard, Torres and Aquilani against the Gunners, and the Spaniard agrees with his captain that Liverpool will end the season in the top four.
Benitez said: "This season's race for the top four is good for the fans, for TV and for neutrals. If you have just one club trying to break into the top four it is not so exciting.
"Now there are three, at least, trying to get into the top group and that makes everything more exciting. And that helps everyone because all teams will lose more games in the race.
"Even Chelsea and Manchester United, who are both very strong, are also losing games.
"But I feel it will still be the same top four at the end of the season.
"We have options now. We have Aquilani, (Javier) Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Torres all to chose from. It is not a question of someone being left out, more a question of having choices for a change.
"We are better than we look, now we have three quality players all available and all fit. Now let's see whether we can improve our position and get into the top four.
"We will be there (in the top four). Arsenal will do that too. We can improve, we can be in the top four and we can win a trophy. It is only what you would expect from a top side.
"We have had a bad spell but we are still very close to the top four and our top players are now available."
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