Former Liverpool hero John Aldridge believes the race for fourth place in the Premier League is a straight fight between the Reds and Manchester City, and has tipped Rafael Benitez's men to come out on top.
Speaking exclusively to Goal.com UK Aldridge, who scored 63 goals in 104 games for the Reds between 1987 and 1989, said he expected the race for a Champions League spot to be fiercely contested, but said Liverpool's more favourable run of fixtures gives them the advantage over their rivals.
"I personally think it's between Liverpool and Manchester City," said Aldridge, "It is obviously very tight, and I think it could go right down to the wire. We could be looking at the last day of the season being decisive.
"Manchester City are, at the moment anyway, playing the more attractive football, and scoring goals, but you look at Liverpool's run-in, and that to me gives them a slight edge."
Liverpool's desperation to secure Champions League football at Anfield next season has been heightened by the release this week of Deloitte's Football Money League, which shows the Reds to be trailing behind the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in terms of revenue generation, and Aldridge knows the importance of a top-four finish for Benitez and his side.
"For the future of the club, it is vitally important that they get fourth this season," he said, "I really hope that they do of course, but I think that they will in the end."
And, as one of the best goalscorers in the club's history, the former Republic of Ireland frontman is in no doubt as to who holds the key to Liverpool's success this season - Spanish striker Fernando Torres.
"It goes without saying that Fernando Torres is absolutely vital for Liverpool, if they are to get fourth place," he says, "Liverpool have to do everything to make sure he is available along with Steven Gerrard, because when he is in the team, they are a different side."
Torres in December became the fastest player in Liverpool history to reach 50 league goals for the club, achieving that remarkable feat in just 72 games. And Aldridge believes that the Spaniard is already well on the way to establishing himself as one of Anfield's all-time greats, alongside the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.
"Absolutely, Torres can be one of the very best," he said, "Of course he needs to stay at the club for a number of years and have that longevity before he can be mentioned alongside the true greats, but he is definitely going the right way, his goalscoring record is phenomenal."
One of the key reasons for Torres' efficiency, Aldridge believes, is the role of skipper Steven Gerrard. The 29-year-old has recently rediscovered some of his best form after a patchy start to the campaign, and Aldridge believes a fit and in-form Gerrard could well be the catalyst for an upturn in Liverpool's performances.
"I think he has looked sharp in the last couple of matches in the centre of midfield," he said, "And when Steven Gerrard is in the side and firing, he brings a bit of bounce to the side, makes people click and gets people around him playing - Torres included.
"If Liverpool are to get themselves going then they need Steven Gerrard on song, make no mistake."
One area where Aldridge, who now works as a summariser for local radio station Radio City, thinks Benitez could improve Liverpool's chances is on the left hand side of midfield.
The form of Albert Riera has been indifferent all season, and though Dutch attacker Ryan Babel has shown glimpses of his undoubted talent of late, prompting some to call for the former Ajax man to be given a prolonged stint in the team, Aldridge believes the 23-year-old has wasted too many chances already at the club.
"I think with [Dirk] Kuyt on the right, Liverpool get a nice balance," he said, "He scores important goals and puts in some great work, but on the left we perhaps need some balance.
"We don't have a left-sided player who can go past a man and create things, like a left-sided version of Aaron Lennon or Shaun Wright-Phillips.
"Babel has had so many chances at Liverpool, and so far he has failed to take any of them. How many chances does he need?"
Speaking exclusively to Goal.com UK Aldridge, who scored 63 goals in 104 games for the Reds between 1987 and 1989, said he expected the race for a Champions League spot to be fiercely contested, but said Liverpool's more favourable run of fixtures gives them the advantage over their rivals.
"I personally think it's between Liverpool and Manchester City," said Aldridge, "It is obviously very tight, and I think it could go right down to the wire. We could be looking at the last day of the season being decisive.
"Manchester City are, at the moment anyway, playing the more attractive football, and scoring goals, but you look at Liverpool's run-in, and that to me gives them a slight edge."
Liverpool's desperation to secure Champions League football at Anfield next season has been heightened by the release this week of Deloitte's Football Money League, which shows the Reds to be trailing behind the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in terms of revenue generation, and Aldridge knows the importance of a top-four finish for Benitez and his side.
"For the future of the club, it is vitally important that they get fourth this season," he said, "I really hope that they do of course, but I think that they will in the end."
And, as one of the best goalscorers in the club's history, the former Republic of Ireland frontman is in no doubt as to who holds the key to Liverpool's success this season - Spanish striker Fernando Torres.
"It goes without saying that Fernando Torres is absolutely vital for Liverpool, if they are to get fourth place," he says, "Liverpool have to do everything to make sure he is available along with Steven Gerrard, because when he is in the team, they are a different side."
Torres in December became the fastest player in Liverpool history to reach 50 league goals for the club, achieving that remarkable feat in just 72 games. And Aldridge believes that the Spaniard is already well on the way to establishing himself as one of Anfield's all-time greats, alongside the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.
"Absolutely, Torres can be one of the very best," he said, "Of course he needs to stay at the club for a number of years and have that longevity before he can be mentioned alongside the true greats, but he is definitely going the right way, his goalscoring record is phenomenal."
One of the key reasons for Torres' efficiency, Aldridge believes, is the role of skipper Steven Gerrard. The 29-year-old has recently rediscovered some of his best form after a patchy start to the campaign, and Aldridge believes a fit and in-form Gerrard could well be the catalyst for an upturn in Liverpool's performances.
"I think he has looked sharp in the last couple of matches in the centre of midfield," he said, "And when Steven Gerrard is in the side and firing, he brings a bit of bounce to the side, makes people click and gets people around him playing - Torres included.
"If Liverpool are to get themselves going then they need Steven Gerrard on song, make no mistake."
One area where Aldridge, who now works as a summariser for local radio station Radio City, thinks Benitez could improve Liverpool's chances is on the left hand side of midfield.
The form of Albert Riera has been indifferent all season, and though Dutch attacker Ryan Babel has shown glimpses of his undoubted talent of late, prompting some to call for the former Ajax man to be given a prolonged stint in the team, Aldridge believes the 23-year-old has wasted too many chances already at the club.
"I think with [Dirk] Kuyt on the right, Liverpool get a nice balance," he said, "He scores important goals and puts in some great work, but on the left we perhaps need some balance.
"We don't have a left-sided player who can go past a man and create things, like a left-sided version of Aaron Lennon or Shaun Wright-Phillips.
"Babel has had so many chances at Liverpool, and so far he has failed to take any of them. How many chances does he need?"
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