Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is hopeful that his side can push for a top-four position next season.
The Merseyside outfit are likely to finish outside of Europe by the end of the campaign as they sit in seventh, five points below local rivals Everton.
"My focus is to try to close the gap," BBC Sport quotes Rodgers as saying. "We are bridging that gap slowly this year but hopefully we will take a bigger stride next year.
"But the reality is very simple - we are 30 points behind the leaders and 12 points behind fourth place so we have a lot of work to do here. We know it is a long road but we don't like being second-best and being behind.
"We don't start the season aiming to finish fourth. The aim is always to win the title. A club of this status that is the ultimate objective, but you have to be realistic."
The Reds will finish their campaign with clashes against Fulham and Queens Park Rangers.
Danielle Joynson
