Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has insisted his side are merely concentrating on achieveing their goal of acquiring Champions League football for next season, as opposed to looking higher up the table.
The Reds' 1-0 win at Swansea City earlier this week took them just four points away from 2nd-placed Manchester City, and boss Brendan Rodgers was confident his side are still fully capable of potentially replicating their 2013-14 finish.
But whilst Sturridge and his Liverpool teammates may be privately be aiming to produce a shock and finish in the automatic qualification spots, he said that simply achieving a top-four berth is the current aim.
"It is important to secure fourth place and then from there look on," said a grounded Sturridge.
"To finish in the top four is realistic for us, it's what we're aiming to do, and if we can get higher than that then perfect.
"But finishing in the top four is the objective and that's the most important thing for us. It's not about aiming for anything other than that now.
"If we can finish in the top four, then we can push on and challenge for the title again next season.
"I think top four is definitely possible for us."
The Reds were forced to rue their luck after the 25-year-old striker spent five months of the current campaign out with various niggling injuries and their form fluctuated.
But with Sturridge slowly starting to find full fitness as he battles for form - Liverpool have began a remarkable recovery since Christmas, turning their season around to go on a second-half unbeaten streak.
Sturridge was keen to hail the impact of his team-mates, who have adapted wonderfully to a 3-4-3 formation since a humbling 3-0 loss at Manchester United in mid-December.
"There has been perseverance and a lot of hard work done by the players to get to where we are," added the striker, who has four goals in 12 games in all competitions so far this season.
"We're in a good moment, so we're just continuing to work hard each day out on the training field, putting in the work and hours.
"Then at the weekends, we're going into the games with a confident mentality and a positive attitude.
"The boys have fought back and we're where we are now, and that is testament to the hard work everyone has put in to get to where we are today.
"It [the formation] is working. Everyone is defending very well, Si [Mignolet] is doing extremely well also. It's great to see and long may it continue."
The Reds have now won their last five consecutive Premier League games as they approach a decisive clash with arch-rivals Manchester United this weekend, and Sturridge admitted that the aura around the dressing room feels similar to this time last season, when the Reds had thrashed United 3-0 at Old Trafford in the midst of their jaw-dropping 11 game winning streak.
"I think so," he replied, when asked whether there were many similiarities between now and then. "In terms of how we go out there with a positive attitude, try to play our football, try to break down the opposition and create chances to score goals.
"Sometimes maybe we don't create as we did last season, but I feel that as long as we're winning games, that's all that matters."