Defender Glen Johnson is surprised Liverpool are within touching distance of the top four after such a poor start to the season.
Having endured their worst start to a campaign since 1953/54 with six points from the opening eight matches the Reds have now accrued 13 from their last six and they are now only three points off fifth place and six behind Manchester City, who occupy the final Champions League qualification position.
Saturday's comfortable 3-0 win over bottom side West Ham has boosted confidence and Johnson said: "We are still quite close to the top and if we can build on this performance then I'm sure we can be close to where we want to be. It surprises me that this win has taken us to within sight of fourth place."
He added: "Considering some of the points we have dropped, you'd have thought we would be out of it already, to be honest, but we're in there.
"Everyone's beating everyone at the moment and the league's really open.
"That means if we can put a run together we can get up there where we aim to be."
Just over a week ago a four-match unbeaten league run - which had lifted the club out of the unfamiliar surroundings of the relegation zone - was ended in dismal fashion at Stoke.
Johnson is hoping the club can now put together another strong sequence of results.
"The West Ham win was an important result because we can start again looking for another unbeaten run like that last one," said the England international, who marked his return from a three-match injury-enforced absence with the opening goal on Saturday.
"We are looking to go on another run, to build on this victory again, and we showed good form out there, especially in the first half. We believe that if we can put another run together we can be back up there challenging for the top four places."
Source: PA
