Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer believes that the Reds cannot count on rivals Everton doing anything but losing against Arsenal next weekend, which means Jurgen Klopp's men must beat Middlesbrough.
Liverpool thrashed West Ham 4-0 at the London Stadium on Sunday to put themselves in pole position to finish in the top four – beating Middlesbrough next weekend at Anfield will secure Champions League football.
However, if Liverpool slip up then Arsenal can take advantage, with the Gunners having two games left, against relegated Sunderland and then on the final day against Everton.
McAteer thinks that there is little chance of Everton doing Liverpool a favour, which means the Reds must beat Boro.
"You can't see Arsenal slipping up against Everton", McAteer said on LFC TV.
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"Everton aren't going to do us any favours.
"So it is going to be down to us to do it again."
McAteer also believes that it would be unfair if Liverpool miss out on the Champions League, due to the quality of football they have played in the Premier League this season.
"I think it will be an injustice if we don't get Champions League football because for the first half of the season we were sensational", he added.
Arsenal will now look to beat Sunderland on Tuesday night at the Emirates Stadium to take the top four race to the final weekend.
