Benitez admits Liverpool's title hopes are fading

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admits his side's Premier League title hopes are fading after a shock 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.

Benitez concedes the title is now Manchester United's to lose thanks to Saturday's meltdown at the Riverside Stadium.

Xabi Alonso's own goal plus a Tuncay Sanli second-half strike ended Liverpool's 15-game unbeaten league run to leave them a daunting seven points behind runaway leaders United.

Liverpool have also played a game more to make their key trip to Old Trafford later this month assume must-win proportions as they bid to keep their slim hopes alive.

Benitez said: "It depends on Manchester United. Will they slip up? Maybe, I don't know. The ball's in their court now.

"We will have to make sure we beat Sunderland in our next game now. Before this game winning the title was a difficult task, clearly now it's even more difficult."