“It is more important at this time to think of how we can be even better and this means keeping the good basis that we have settled on this season and by trying to go a little bit further,” he said. “We need to start taking three points from games when we are not at our best, this will make a big difference at the end of a season.”

Liverpool drew seven matches at Anfield and Alonso added: “We have drawn too many games at home. Considering the record we have had away from home, we have probably dropped too many points at Anfield and because of that they (United) are ahead of us.

“In the first half of the season we drew a few games that we probably shouldn’t have and those games, if you want to win the league, you can’t afford to draw them.

“Because of that we are now in this position. It could have been better but all teams can say ‘If only we had done this different’.”

Alonso admits it is imperative Liverpool now land some silverware next term, having gone three years without lifting a major honour.

“Even being close to the title, to not win anything with Liverpool, it is disappointing,” he added.

“We have to be critical of ourselves, knowing we have done some things right but we have also done some things wrong.

“It is very difficult nowadays to win trophies, but with the team we have got we should be challenging.”

Alonso expects next season’s title race to be even more closely contested, with Manchester City expected to spend big this summer and Everton enjoying a strong second half of the season.

“Other teams are closing the gap,” he said. “I think that is very good for the league to have more options and to not always have the same teams challenging for the top four.

“Maybe in the future there will be more options and that will be good for the league and for the fans overall. It will make things more exciting and that can only be positive.”