Jurgen Klopp has backed Liverpool to show their top-four credentials, saying they have become "stronger" after facing difficulties this season.
Liverpool have picked up 10 points from 12 since a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, dropping points only against champions Chelsea.
They are sixth in the Premier League ahead of a midweek trip to Stoke City, trailing leaders Manchester City by 14 points.
Klopp has already said how difficult it will be for anyone to catch Pep Guardiola's side, leaving Liverpool as one of the teams battling for Champions League qualification.
"We are in sixth place but we are close enough for pretty much everything and that's good," Klopp said.
"We didn't have a crisis but we had our 'little hole.' We had it already with the draws against different teams, stuff like this, we didn't lose a lot.
"I think we became stronger. We were very strong then we had a little problem after the first international break, and since then we improve, improve, improve, get better and become consistent.
"Tottenham was really exceptional in a not too nice way but all the rest, form-wise, was always really good and that's very important and keeps us in the race.
"I'm really optimistic for the next few weeks if we can keep them all healthy, fit, kind of fresh. Then we have real quality there and that is what we have to use."
Nathaniel Clyne is Liverpool's only long-term absentee through injury, and Klopp feels he has adequate squad depth for the rest of the season.
Against Chelsea at the weekend, Georginio Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold were the manager's six outfield players on the bench.
"Our bench against Chelsea's bench, I thought that would be a nice game as well. I was like wow.... six-a-side!" the manager added.
"Last year we had a really nice squad, this year it is, for sure, better. It is wider. We didn't have a bench like this before and we need it now. We need it in the next few weeks.
"I am really happy about our development and stuff like this, but the other teams don't sleep. Especially City, they are in a really good moment, but they don't look unbeatable.
"As long as they are not even perfect and still winning all their games, then it's the best thing you can do. United, different approach. They are all really good, and that's the thing.
"Tottenham, similar problems -- or no real problems -- to us, Arsenal pretty much the same. Chelsea different, so that's how it is. We do what we can do and we will be better, we must be stronger. To have common experiences like we have already makes us stronger."