Liverpool's Adam Lallana targets Chelsea shock and top four spot

Adam Lallana: Still dreaming of making the top four

Liverpool can still secure Champions League football by winning their last three games, says Adam Lallana.

Manchester United's shock defeat by West Brom last Saturday left them just four points ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool in the Premier League standings going into the campaign's finale.

Brendan Rodgers' team end the season with games against Crystal Palace and Hull, but their first port of call is Stamford Bridge in Super Sunday's clash where they will take on the title winners.

"Chelsea deserve to be champions," said the England midfielder. "The table doesn't lie. They have been the best team throughout the season. You have to respect that.

"All I know is we want to go there and spoil the party. We're looking to go there and cause an upset and put a dent in their celebrations."

Finishing in the top four means a place in Europe's premier competition with Liverpool desperate to pressurise fierce rivals United who travel to Palace on Saturday and end their campaign at Hull after hosting Arsenal at Old Trafford.

United have lost three league matches in a row for the first time in 14 years and a hopeful Lallana said: "It's not over yet.

"We can still finish in the top four but we need to take maximum points now. We'll keep fighting right to the end. We all know what can happen.

"United have some tough games to play and I am sure they will drop more points. We have to put pressure on United by going to Stamford Bridge and getting three points. Pressure is a tough thing to deal with.

"We need to beat Chelsea and Palace and hope it all comes down to the final weekend. We all knew that last week was a big week and it was disappointing to only get four points out of the games against West Brom, Hull and QPR.

"We would have been right on their toes, if not ahead of United, if we had performed better. But we still have a chance and everyone believes fourth place is still possible."

It has largely been a disappointing season for Liverpool after coming so close last term with Lallana unable to contribute as much as he would have hoped following a string of injuries.

"It's been really frustrating," said Lallana, who has started just 20 of Liverpool's 35 league games since his £25m move from Southampton.

"I never really got going and there was no consistency in my form. We've had a couple of tough spells as a team this season but, when you have hard times together, you come out of it in a better place and I believe that will happen here.

"All the new players are going to be better for the experiences of this season. The pressure is always on at a club like Liverpool and everyone has seen that this year.

"It will be a big pre-season for me to ensure I get fit and stay fit. We need a much better start to next season. I'm desperate to do well here and contribute as much as I can."

Watch Chelsea v Liverpool on Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1, kick-off 4pm

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Brendan Rodgers says he will be a better manager at Liverpool next season

Brendan Rodgers believes he "will be a better manager" next season, and has criticised the "short-termism" that has threatened to dislodge him at Liverpool.

After finishing second in the Premier League last season, Liverpool were expected to lead another title charge this campaign after spending over £100million on transfers last summer.

Rodgers and his side have faltered however, and find themselves four points off securing Champions League football for the second successive season, with just three games remaining.

But the Northern Irishman believes that he and his side will learn from their struggles, and will recover to fight at the top of the league again next season.

"What we have seen here over the last couple of years is that we are definitely on the right path," Rodgers said. "This year it's been pretty clear that it has been disappointing but I think the opportunity arises for us again next season.

"There is some exciting talents coming in. The players that have come in, it's been a difficult year for them but they will be better for it.

"All the new players are gaining experience about the pressures of Liverpool and, again, myself will be a better manager because of it."

The 42-year-old was also critical of what he perceives as "short-termism" in football, this following Saturday's victory over QPR, where a banner saying 'Rodgers Out, Rafa In' - in reference to former manager Benitez - was flown over Anfield.

"Modern football now is very harsh and is very much short-termism," said Rodgers.

"But it has shown that over the years the majority of the teams that have that stability, and if the owners and players have that belief, then it will come good.

"Because of the club that Liverpool is, there will always be an expectancy because of the great history. But you always have to have a sense of perspective and the reality of where we are at.

"We are in fifth position, having got to two cup semi-finals in which we were disappointed not to have reached the finals in but, hopefully, we can use that and those disappointments to make us manage better in the future."

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Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has hip operation in United States

Daniel Sturridge: Injuries have restricted Liverpool striker to 18 appearances this season

Liverpool's England striker Daniel Sturridge has had an operation on his injured hip.

Sturridge, who flew to the United States for assessment last week, revealed the news on social media and said the surgery was a success.

A message on his Instagram account read: "Just want to let the world know I've had a successful operation on my hip today and I want to thank God for allowing that to be possible.

"Onwards and upwards from here. Thanks for the support. Daniel."

Injuries have restricted Sturridge to just 18 appearances this season, and he previously spent time in the States for treatment on a long-term thigh problem.

The 25-year-old did not say how long he expected to be out following the hip surgery, but the aim of his latest trip to Boston was to find a long-term solution to his persistent injury problems.

Speaking last week Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said: "I think we have found some underlying issues that maybe relate to Daniel's issues and problems this season and the ongoing problems he's had.

“The medical team here, liaising with some of the medics in America, are doing everything we possibly can to give Daniel every opportunity to stay consistently fit and available.”

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Hillsborough officer denies propaganda claim

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