Four-in-a-row for fourth, says Riise

Liverpool have not managed four successive league wins all season – but that is what defender John Arne Riise believes they need to clinch Champions League football next term.

The Reds have not won four Premiership games on the trot since this time last year, when they beat Fulham, Everton, Charlton and West Brom, before losing the last two of the campaign against Manchester City and Chelsea.

That saw them qualify for the Champions League, and Norway international Riise feels they will have to pull off a similar run this time around if they are to make fourth place.

“I think we will probably need four wins,” said Riise.

“If not four wins then certainly three and a draw. We definitely cannot afford any more defeats.”

Their final four games this season start at Manchester United on Saturday and also include Birmingham, Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

Riise reflected: “We cannot keep slipping up like we have been doing and relying on other teams to drop points to ensure we stay fourth. We have to start putting some wins together.

“With four games to go we have to try and get 12 points and then see if it is good enough for us to stay fourth.”

Riise added on the club’s official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv: “We will probably have to play our best football of the season so far to win at United, and if we do I am sure people will still criticise us.

“Manchester United away is probably the most difficult fixture you can get in the Premiership.

"Nobody expects us to win there, so maybe that will work in our favour.

“If we beat United this weekend then it will give us a huge confidence boost before the final three games and also give the fans something to celebrate as well.”