Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer believes that today’s 2-2 draw against Sunderland means that the Reds are no longer viable contenders to finish in the top four.
The Reds threw away a two-goal advantage in the final ten minutes of the game at Anfield and allowed Sunderland to walk away with a point, which further dented their hopes of Champions League football next season.
Liverpool were coasting home after Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana scored two goals after the break, but an Adam Johnson free-kick in the 82nd minute and another strike from Jermain Defoe with just a minute left of the 90 helped the Black Cats to steal a point from Anfield.
Everton moved up to eighth at the expense of their city rivals, and the Reds are now ten points off the pace of a top four finish, with just 13 games left to play this season.
McAteer feels that Liverpool’s chances of finishing in the Champions League spots are all but over, as he can’t see any of the sides near the top of the table to slip up.
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The former Red told LFC TV: “For me that's fourth gone with today's result; I think any one of the top five will win the league and I can't see any of them slipping up.”
When asked whether finishing in the top four is still a viable target for the Reds, the midfielder shot back: “For me fourth is not viable, no.”
Liverpool will next travel to Upton Park on Tuesday night to take on West Ham in a FA Cup fifth round replay.
