Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has insisted that his side still retain hope of finishing in the Champions League places this season.
The Reds' top-four ambitions appeared to be over following a draw against West Bromwich Albion and defeat to Hull City in successive matches, but Saturday's late victory over Queens Park Rangers cut the gap to four points.
Manchester United currently occupy the final Champions League place but have lost their last three matches without scoring a goal, and Lallana is desperate to keep the pressure up with victory over newly-crowned champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
The Reds then face Crystal Palace at Anfield before a final-day meeting with Stoke City, and Lallana believes that only a perfect end to the season will do if they are to overhaul their bitter rivals.
"It's not over yet. We can still finish in the top four but we need to take maximum points now. We'll keep fighting right to the end. We all know what can happen," he told the club's official website.
"United have some tough games to play and I am sure they will drop more points. We have to put pressure on United by going to Stamford Bridge and getting three points. Pressure is a tough thing to deal with. We need to beat Chelsea and Palace and hope it all comes down to the final weekend.
"We all knew that last week was a big week and it was disappointing to only get four points out of the games against West Brom, Hull and QPR. We would have been right on their toes, if not ahead of United, if we had performed better. But we still have a chance and everyone believes fourth place is still possible. We have to concentrate on ourselves and look to take maximum points from our three remaining matches."
United face Palace away this weekend before a home tie against Arsenal and final-day trip to relegation-threatened Hull City.
Barney Corkhill
