Trent Alexander-Arnold insists the mood inside the Anfield dressing room is a "little low" with Liverpool left with little to play for in the final weeks of the Premier League season.
Jurgen Klopp's side recorded a fifth consecutive Premier League victory on Wednesday evening as Mohamed Salah's first-half penalty helped down a lacklustre Fulham side on Merseyside. It takes their unbeaten run to seven games since earning a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge at the start of April.
But despite the evident progress in recent weeks as Liverpool have put together a late play for Champions League qualification, Alexander-Arnold admits there is still a lingering disappointment in how this season has played out - accepting that even an outside chance of qualifying for Europe's premier competition isn't "genuine" enough.
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"We want to be in title races at this stage of the season or in genuine top four races. We're not in that right now and that might be why the mood is a little low," Alexander-Arnold told the BBC after Wednesday's victory.
"It reflects where we are in the league and what we have to play for left. It's not where we want to be and that's as a club as players, staff and fans."
Although the 24-year-old starred in his new-look midfield role against the West Londoners, he believes there are still numerous areas for him and his team-mates to improve upon as a late rally from Marco Silva's side required the heroics of Alisson Becker to secure the three points.
"We won the game and that's all that matters,' added Alexander-Arnold. "They are a good side and have performed well this season.
"We dominated a lot of the first half and they had counter-attacks but then they grew into the second half. It's becoming a bit of a pattern. We haven't been able to sustain our good starts. It's something we probably need to look at."
Despite having played two games more, Liverpool currently trail Manchester United - who occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualification spot - by four points, with Erik Ten Hag's side facing a difficult trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday evening.
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