A defiant Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insisted his side could still win the English League title despite their 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Sunday, a result that left them seven points behind leaders Manchester United, dpa reported.
Dirk Kuyt rescued a point for Liverpool after an own goal from Alvaro Arbeloa had put City ahead, but with 12 games to go, time is running out if Liverpool are to win their first title since 1990.
"Clearly it's more difficult now," Benitez said of the title race.
"We have to win (their next matches) against Middlesbrough and Sunderland and then we have to start thinking about winning at Old Trafford.
"I have confidence we can beat Middlesbrough and Sunderland and then it might be a different situation.
"It's not easy because United can win games even without playing well, but there are still 12 games. You cannot say everything is finished.
"Clearly if we want to reduce the gap we have to win our next games and then beat United."
Liverpool have now drawn six of their 13 home games in the league, a statistic that looks likely to cost them dear, though they are now three points clear of third-placed Chelsea.
With Steven Gerrard out injured and Xabi Alonso missing through suspension, the home side were bereft of invention in midfield and City had few difficult moments in defence.
Stephen Ireland wasted a good chance for City but the visitors were ahead six minutes into the second half when former Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy's shot took a heavy deflection off Arbeloa and went past Jose Reina.
Kuyt equalized with 12 minutes to go after a mishit shot by Fernando Torres, and the Dutchman then forced a good save from Shay Given.
Benitez belatedly brought on Ryan Babel with eight minutes to go and the Dutchman caused problems, while Arbeloa and Yossi Benayoun both went close to snatching the winner.
In the end, though, they could not find the winner and their title hopes now appear doomed.
Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson scored second -half goals as Fulham beat bottom side West Brom 2-0.
The win lifted Fulham well clear of the bottom three, with man-of-the-match Danny Murphy delighted with the points.
"After a bit of a run around at Old Trafford the other night (a 3- 0 loss) it was nice to get three points on the board," Murphy said.
"It gives us now a nine, 10-point cushion from the bottom three and we can look upwards rather than downwards."
The other game of the day, between Newcastle United and Everton, ended goalless.
Mikael Arteta was carried off injured in the first few minutes of the match but Newcastle will be more satisfied with the point after Kevin Nolan was sent off just before half-time.
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