Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has revealed that the club's hierarchy have been "very pleased" with the side's upturn in fortunes over the past couple of months.
The Reds started the season poorly and languished in the bottom half of the Premier League earlier in the campaign, and they were also knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage.
However, manager Brendan Rodgers has overseen an improvement in performances since Christmas, and the five-time European Cup winners are now four points off the top four in the division.
Werner told the Liverpool Echo: "We are very pleased too with the progress the club has made in the last few weeks. We were disappointed with the injury that Daniel Sturridge sustained so we obviously got off to a start that was not as felicitous as we wanted.
"I think Brendan's attacking style of football is extremely entertaining to our fans and as we look at the table today – and I don't really want to get too far ahead of ourselves - we are only five points behind third-placed Manchester United and four points behind Southampton.
"So I think we are certainly competitive and I'm optimistic that the recent play of the team will continue."
Liverpool are also still in the Europa League and the FA Cup, and travel to Crystal Palace in the fifth round this evening.
Paul Gorst
