Finnan rues dreadful start to season

Steve Finnan admits Liverpool have only themselves to blame for not being closer to Saturday's opponents Chelsea in the title race.

Liverpool go into the lunchtime clash eight points behind the second-placed champions knowing that defeat will end any fleeting chance they had of snatching the runners-up slot.

Republic of Ireland full-back Finnan blames Liverpool's dreadful start to the season and their equally poor early away form for the current situation in a season that the Merseysiders were heavily tipped to make a genuine title challenge.

Now that has disappeared almost as fast as leaders Manchester United moved over the horizon with an unassailable 14-point lead over their Anfield rivals at the top.

Finnan said: "The lads know that we could be even closer to Chelsea and Manchester United at the top of the table but that's all about ifs and buts now. It is difficult not to look at some of our results, such as Blackburn and Middlesbrough away, and wonder just how close to the top two we could have been now.

"We could go back to the start of the season and list a number of away games that we probably should have got more out of, Chelsea away included. It can be frustrating to see that gap between ourselves and the two at the top."

Boss Rafael Benitez has hit a frustrating spell in his search for new players, and has hinted that he will drop out of the hunt for Blackburn's full-back Lucas Neill if a decision is not made soon by the Australian.

Neill is believed to be considering an offer from West Ham worth a much larger wage packet than Liverpool are prepared to offer.

Benitez said: "We are continuing to work on things, but we will not wait. If a player wants to come to Liverpool he must say so quickly. If he thinks about it for too long maybe it is a signal it is time for us to look at other players. We have alternatives."

Reserve youngster Adam Hamill will spend the rest of the season on loan at Dunfermline.