Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish insists his players should not be judged by Sunday's result at Aston Villa.
The Reds need victory for any chance of qualifying for the Europa League.
"They have played brilliantly since January, gone about their work and surpassed all expectations," Dalglish told liverpoolfc.tv.
"We are dependent on other people now (to finish fifth) when we could have finished it but it has been a fantastic effort to get close.
"We can only look after ourselves."