Liverpool can win the Premier League title despite having a tougher run-in than rivals Manchester City, according to former Reds defender Jose Enrique.
Enrique, who made 76 top-flight appearances for the Reds, also believes Jurgen Klopp's team could count the season as a success even if they do not record a second Premier League triumph under the German.
A 4-0 thrashing of Manchester United moved Klopp's men top of the league ahead of City hosting Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday, keeping the Reds in contention for an incredible quadruple.
After watching his old team rout United, Enrique believes Liverpool can go on to secure a 20th English top-flight title despite a seemingly less favourable run-in than fellow contenders City.
"I hope so, I really believe they can [win the league]," he told Stats Perform. "Listen, the reality is what Klopp and the players said, you depend on yourself for winning the remaining games, that's what you can do.
"Let's see what happens, at the moment it's still in Manchester City's hands, that's the reality. They [Liverpool] can [only] do what they say, take it game-by-game and try to win all the remaining games.
"That isn't easy, obviously you're coming into Everton now, they are in a very bad moment, but again anything can happen.
"Obviously the most difficult fixtures on paper are for Liverpool, but I really believe they can do it.
"But it's true that if they win all the remaining games and at the end, they [still] don't win it, for me, it will still be a massive success for the club."
Liverpool's 4-0 thrashing of Ralf Rangnick's side, coupled with a 5-0 rout at Old Trafford earlier this campaign, means Klopp's team have hit nine goals past the Red Devils without reply this term, with only Sunderland in 1892-93 (11-0) ever recording a more dominant combined league triumph over United.
Although Enrique enjoyed watching Liverpool tear their rivals apart at Anfield, he expressed sympathy for Rangnick's team and said he would like to see the rivals face off on a more level playing field.
"You enjoy it, you know, nine goals against them this season, five away from home and four obviously at Anfield, a clean sheet in both of them." he added.
"Listen, in a way I feel sorry about them [United]. Because the rivalry between both clubs has always been the best in the Premier League, this kind of game is even more important.
"So, in a way, I would like actually a better game, you know, from that side, a little more complicated [for Liverpool], but at the same time, we're fighting for every single title."
The defeat represented a new low in another frustrating season for United, who are now winless in eight head-to-head clashes with Liverpool (three draws, five losses).
Enrique was exasperated by Bruno Fernandes suggesting his team had nothing to play for after the defeat, the Spaniard stating he has never seen a greater divide between players and fans at United.
"It's like they weren't playing for anything at Manchester," he added. "[But] you have to actually work to try to get in the top four, and then after the game, you see Bruno Fernandes having an interview and saying they aren't playing for anything and Liverpool is playing for a title.
"They are actually trying to play to get into the top four, I don't know, I think I've never seen a United team like this season before.
"Definitely the difference between the clubs, at the moment, is massive, I really believe they need to get rid of some other players, there will be some of them that finish their contract as well.
"They need to get that manager that they trust, and then you can see the unity between the fans and club. I've never seen that before, you know?
"I think they [United's players and fans] are very very far away from each other… very, very far away. The farthest away I have seen."