Phil Thompson has expressed his belief that Liverpool can still finish in the top four to secure Champions League football next season to ensure their season cannot be branded a failure.

The Reds saw their FA Cup dreams crushed in their 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in their semi-final clash at Wembley to end their hopes of silverware this season.

However, Thompson feels that if Brendan Rodgers's side can overhaul Manchester City to finish in fourth place then their season can be seen as a success.

He told Sky Sports News: "Our biggest aim this season was to ensure we got Champions League football again. It's still possible, so it's hard to say the season has been a failure until you get to the very last game and you see how you finish.

"City, for all the problems that they've had, you know they've got players who are capable, so it's difficult to see them losing their games.

"We definitely need to play better football between now and the end of the season, and that can give everyone a bit of a confidence boost ahead of next year at least. But, again, you can only judge it when you see where they finish, so you can't label it a failure just yet."

Liverpool are seven points behind City with six matches remaining in their season.