Gerrard clings to title aspirations

Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, is refusing to give up on the Premiership title and believes Chelsea and Manchester United will eventually slip up.

Liverpool's 2-0 defeat to United on Sunday left them 11 points behind the leaders and second-placed Chelsea but Gerrard believes getting trips to Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford out of the way could work in his side's favour.

"We haven't made the start to the season we hoped we'd make, but we're more than capable of going on a run of 10 games or more without defeat and that would put us right in the mix," Gerrard said.

"Both United and Chelsea have difficult games coming up but we have to sort out our own form and get ourselves in a position to take advantage of any slips that anyone else makes. And they will slip up.

"People have said the League's over for us," he added, "but we've been to Old Trafford and we've been to Stamford Bridge and we've still got them to come to us. Nothing's over yet.

"Sunday's result at Old Trafford wasn't what we wanted, but we're in October, and with the talent we have in the dressing-room, we can't be counted out of anything."