Rafa Benitez concedes Liverpool's wastefulness in front of goal has undermined their title challenge. The Reds are now seven points behind Manchester United and having played a game more after leading the way at the top for most of the season.

Liverpool's failure to take their chances on Saturday saw them slump to a 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.

"I think it was a very bad day (against Middlesbrough)," said Benitez. "We were thinking of just to win, okay we lost and the title race is more difficult now.

"I think we approached the game really well. The first minute we were okay, the chances we had we couldn't score, then after we concede an own goal and then everything was going wrong.

"When we concede the second goal it is was more difficult again. That is football.

"We were talking about the mistakes we made and we were talking about the future and the future is the game against Sunderland, so we have to think about this game, try to win three points and see what happens with United. You cannot change things now.

"Clearly we have to take our chances. It has been the same problem all season."