'REDS HAVE BLOWN IT'.

Byline: By IAN DOYLE

MIDDLESBROUGH defender David Wheater believes Liverpool lost their chance of winning the Premier League title with defeat at Riverside.

An own goal from Xabi Alonso and a second-half strike by Tuncay Sanli sent Rafael Benitez's side tumbling to a 2-0 loss on Saturday.

The defeat, only Liverpool's second in 27 league games this season, means the Anfield outfit remain seven points adrift of champions Manchester United having played a game more.

Liverpool have also dropped down to third after being surpassed by Chelsea on goal difference.

And Middlesbrough centre-back Wheater has pinpointed Tuncay's 63rd-minute effort as the point of no return for the championship aspirations of Benitez's side.

"When we scored our second their heads dropped a bit," he said.

"Then we were on top. They were expecting to win but we came out for the second half really well, something we have not been doing.

"You could almost say when we scored our second goal that it was the moment they lost the title.

"It's Manchester United all the way, most people know that. They will push them but they won't win it."

Middlesbrough went into the match having gone 14 league games without a win and having not scored a top-flight goal in more than eight hours.

But Wheater added: "Believe it or not, all of our players thought we would win. Everyone I talked to knew we would win. With top teams you have to get into them, if you don't they will score sometimes. But we stayed in the hunt for 90 minutes.

"It felt comfortable in the last half an hour. The lad who came on, (David) Ngog, was quite good, but it was a great feeling when they kept giving the ball away in the last few minutes. Liverpool weren't very creative.

"We defended well and got another clean sheet. They are a top four team with a lot of quality all around but we dealt with them well.

"Normally you see Gerrard creating all sorts but he didn't do that. They are missing Torres who scores their goals, but I don't think there's anyone who will get 20 goals if he is not in there.

"2002 was the last time they won here. But we normally do well against the top teams for some reason.

"We have Man United coming here, we owe Liverpool that one so we will have to do well against them too. Hopefully we can get the win this time, we drew last season."

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is convinced he is winning the psychological battle as he attempts to get his players to believe they can survive the drop.

"The players have put some consistent performances together.

Their belief is coming back, their confidence is coming back," he said.

CAPTION(S):

Rafa Benitez