Steven Gerrard remains confident that Liverpool
can upset the odds this season and take the Premier League
title.
The Reds have not taken the top-flight crown for 19 years, but
remain well placed to end that drought this term.
They have surrendered top spot to arch-rivals Manchester United
in recent weeks, with precious points dropped in consecutive draws
with Stoke and Everton.
Some critics have begun to question whether Rafa Benitez's side
are capable of lasting the distance, with experienced heads such as
United, Chelsea and Arsenal expected to prevail in the end.
Gerrard, though, has welcomed the underdog tag that has been
placed on the club and believes it will serve as an added incentive
to a squad desperate to bring domestic glory back to
Merseyside.
"Are we out of the title race? No, we're not,"
the Reds skipper told the Liverpool Echo.
"If anything, the couple of setbacks we've had lately just make
us even more determined to get back on track.
"We're nobody's favourites for the Premier League title but we
don't really care. We're in the mix and that's where you want to
be.
"We've got a great chance this season - probably the best in my
time in the first team - and we believe in ourselves.
"There's a lot of pressure that comes with being in our position
but we think we can cope with that. We're confident we can match
United and Chelsea stride for stride and then see what happens in
the closing stages of the campaign."