Liverpool midfielder Fabinho has told ESPN Brasil that his side can still finish in the top four of the Premier League and said it is unthinkable for the club not to play Champions League football.

Liverpool go into Saturday's home game against Nottingham Forest eighth in the table and nine points adrift of Newcastle United, who are in fourth place with eight games remaining.

"That [qualifying for the Champions League] has to be our goal," Fabinho said. "We are hopeful that it is possible.

SOC
Alexander-Arnold in midfield? Why we're at the end of the attacking fullback era

"Of course, it's difficult. The teams that are above us are achieving good results; that is the case of Aston Villa, who are on the rise. Newcastle is also doing well. They lost their last game [at Aston Villa], but they have done well. It will be difficult, but at this moment we have to look at ourselves."

Fabinho said Monday's 6-1 win at Leeds United was a big boost of confidence for Liverpool.

"It was great to win away from home, which unfortunately has been one of our biggest problems this season," he added. "It was good to have won that game against Leeds United the way we did. It's always good to score a lot of goals, especially for our strikers, it gives them even more confidence."