Kenny Dalglish has said that Liverpool are closing in on a top-four spot in the Premier League.

The Merseyside oufit haven't finished in the top four since 2008-09, but the Liverpool boss believes that the club's current approach on the pitch can put them back in contention.

"We are close," he said. "The fine tuning we need is only slight – but then again some of the smallest steps are the biggest ones to take.

"Of course, it's going to be tough to break into the top four. The teams that are there or thereabouts are really good sides. It's going to be tough but we'll have a good go at it and see where it takes us.

"How we get the extra points to do that is the question. We have to keep believing in what we are doing, keep playing as well as we have done, and hope we get that wee bit of extra luck."

Depending on outside results, the Reds could move as high as fifth with a win at Aston Villa this weekend.