Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel believes that failure to qualify for the Champions League this season would be considered unacceptable.

The Reds, who have been absent from Europe's elite competition for four years, have made inroads toward reclaiming their spot in the tournament this season, with Brendan Rodgers's men sitting second in the Premier League behind Arsenal.

Just four points separate the five-time winners of the tournament from ninth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, but Skrtel says that the team have no excuse should they fail to secure their passage back to the big time.

Speaking to The Mirror, the defender said: "The target for Liverpool must be the top four - and that's what we are all looking to achieve.

For me, I am at one of the biggest clubs in the world. And I would say that all the players here are proud to play for the club - but everyone has an ambition to play in the Champions League. So, it is important to us, as players and for the club's future, that we finish in the top four this season.

"At ­Liverpool, the expectations are always high and last season was not good for us, so the aim this time was to start well. We have played very well so far and we can have ­confidence in the future, but only qualifying for the Champions League will count as a success."

Liverpool travel to the KC Stadium this afternoon for a clash with Hull City.