Benitez admits Liverpool's title hopes are fading

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admits his side's Premier League title hopes are fading after a shock 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough. Benitez concedes the title is now Manchester United's to lose thanks to Saturday's meltdown at the Riverside...

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admits his side's Premier League title hopes are fading after a shock 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.

Benitez concedes the title is now Manchester United's to lose thanks to Saturday's meltdown at the Riverside Stadium.

Xabi Alonso's own goal plus a Tuncay Sanli second-half strike ended Liverpool's 15-game unbeaten league run to leave them a daunting seven points behind runaway leaders United.

Liverpool have also played a game more to make their key trip to Old Trafford later this month assume must-win proportions as they bid to keep their slim hopes alive.

Benitez said: "It depends on Manchester United. Will they slip up? Maybe, I don't know. The ball's in their court now.

"We will have to make sure we beat Sunderland in our next game now. Before this game winning the title was a difficult task, clearly now it's even more difficult."

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