Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool must beat Manchester City on Sunday to have any hopes of winning the Premier League title but thinks a top-four finish should be the club's aim.
The Reds sit seven points behind Pep Guardiola's side ahead of Sunday's match at Anfield, whilst City also hold a game in hand.
Liverpool have lost their last two Premier League matches at Anfield to Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion, whilst City are currently enjoying a 13-match unbeaten run in the league.
Despite mass injuries in defence, Liverpool have struggled offensively in 2021 and face the meanest defence in the league on Sunday.
As a result of their indifferent form, Carragher believes Liverpool would shake hands on a top-four finish this season and insisted to have any hopes of retaining the title, they have to win on Sunday.
"I think Liverpool have to be looking at the top-four positions," Carragher told Sky Sports.
"I think I'm saying the obvious here but take each game as it comes. At this moment, the form is so up and down, there are so many changes, you're never quite sure what the team is going to be.
"Alisson was out (vs Brighton), that was a last-minute thing. They're still waiting for players to come back. I think if you offered Liverpool top four now they would take that and shake on it. That should be the mindset for Liverpool at the moment, it's what they're aiming for.
"If they could get back into the title race, to do that they have to beat City on Sunday, I truly believe that. With seven or eight games to go, they can see where they are and hopefully from Liverpool's point of view, City will have some sort of drop because the run they're on at the moment is out of this world.
"I don't think many Liverpool fans think they can win the league, even if they do win on Sunday, I'm just saying that they have to win for any hope. Anything less completely finishes it off, it's hanging by a thread at the moment.
"It's not just the point difference to City, it's the situation Liverpool find themselves in at the minute. The team they have to put at the moment, they're not strong enough to win a title."
