Jamie Carragher fears a top-four finish may already be beyond Liverpool, even if they secure a perfect end to a frustrating campaign.
Carragher journeys to the West Midlands on Sunday to take on a Birmingham City side who have not lost to the top three on home soil, and the Reds stalwart insists it is a game they can ill afford to draw.
But even if Rafa Benitez's side manage to take the spoils over Alex McLeish's men, Liverpool are still outsiders behind Manchester City and Tottenham for a Champions League place, according to the 32-year-old defender.
"We need to think about winning every game from now until the end of the season, but because we're a little bit behind even that might not be good enough," Carragher said in the Sunday Mirror after seeing Spurs slump to defeat against Sunderland while City thrashed Burnley.
"People look at our run-in and think we've got easier games than City and Spurs.
"But I'd much rather be where they are than where we are and because of that I think City are probably favourites to finish fourth.
"We can't worry about the others, though, because we've got to get ourselves in a position where we can put some pressure on them.
"It's no good what a run-in looks like on paper. You've got to win your matches. City and Spurs might have tough games to come. But who's to say they won't win them?
"They are up where they are because they're two very good teams. For me, City are definitely favourites."
