Liverpool remain confident of a top-four Premier League finish as the league is set to resume.

That is according to midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who spoke after their 3-2 loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup.

The Reds were spirited, yet leaky in defense, as they returned to competitive action for the first time since the World Cup.

Thiago, who started the game, believes they are in good form as the league resumes on Boxing Day.

"Can we make the top four? For sure, we are confident to arrive as far as we can in all competitions," said the Spain midfielder, per the Liverpool Echo.

"For sure, the break will benefit us.

"It's new air in our lungs so yeah. I think the players that came from the World Cup will be a bit tired but at the same time they have more rhythm. But I think it's a new era, a new moment for all of us. It never happened that the World Cup was in the middle of the season, we just have to learn and improve with that.

"For sure, we all want to be better than the first half of the season, we work for it. I think today we did a high performance - physically as well. We're just ready for the next part of the season. It was a World Cup in December, so it's tricky to say what happened in the first half of the season. We just want to do it better and we will."