Luis Suarez says Liverpool can be title contenders

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez believes the club have a chance of being title contenders if the form of the final five months of the campaign can be reproduced over a whole season.

The Reds claimed 34 points from 18 Barclays Premier League matches after Kenny Dalglish replaced Roy Hodgson as manager in early January.

If that points-to-games ratio had been produced from the beginning of the season Liverpool would have finished with the same tally (71) as second-placed Chelsea.

"I think the form we showed over the second half of the season bodes well," Suarez - a £22.8million January signing from Ajax - told LFC Weekly.

"We've been playing well and I think we've been getting into the type of form that we know we'll have to keep up for a whole season if we want to be title contenders.

"This is something we're optimistic about for next season and if we can hit the ground running and maintain the good form then I think we've got a good chance of doing well."

Suarez believes Liverpool can challenge at the top

However, despite growing optimism at Anfield, captain Steven Gerrard insists regaining their place in the top four must be the priority when the new season kicks off in August.

"I'd love nothing better than to lead the lads to some silverware next year but I don't want to raise expectation by saying that will definitely happen," said the England midfielder, who was a frustrated observer for the last three months of last season having undergone a groin operation in early March.

"It would be stupid of me to raise expectations any more than they are already.

"At the beginning of every season at Liverpool expectations rise, and now that Kenny is staying and with a few signings I'm sure it'll go through the roof.

"Getting in the Champions League will be the main aim. I think it is for all the clubs in the Premier League.

"For financial reasons it's so important but it's also the biggest competition for players individually at club level.

"We just need to continue what we've been doing during the last six months.

"Hopefully we'll add some more players to strengthen the squad and then we need to compete.

"We are good enough to beat anyone on our day, we just need to find the consistency to challenge for honours."