Rafael Benitez's men, whose hopes of progressing to the knockout stages were already over, bowed out of the competition on a low note by losing 2-1 at home to Fiorentina yesterday.

It continued a disappointing season for the Reds, whose Barclays Premier League title chances also seem over.

With concerns over the club's financial stability refusing to go away, securing a place in the top four has now become the main priority for Benitez.

The Spaniard's side, currently seventh, return to regular league action on Sunday with a tough clash against one of their traditional big-four rivals, third-placed Arsenal.

Captain Steven Gerrard said: "Without a doubt that [finishing in the top four] has to be the main aim this season.

"It's obviously important for the club, and having played in the Champions League for such a long time, it's very important.

"We'll be right up for the Arsenal game on Sunday. If we can get three points there and then take that into the Wigan game, we can turn a corner."

Liverpool are at least cheered by the return of star striker Fernando Torres, who was introduced as a second-half substitute against Fiorentina after a month out.

Gerrard added: "Torres' return is massive for me, massive for everyone.

"He's the main man, he's our top scorer and we need him back firing.

"If that happens I'm sure we'll move back up the league and get in the top four places."

Arsenal must overcome a dip in form themselves having gone down to Olympiacos in midweek and lost two of their last three in the Premier League.

The rest of the competition are in action on Saturday with champions Manchester United, two points behind leaders Chelsea, hosting fifth-placed Aston Villa.

United are without a host of players, particularly defenders, due to injury but form is good after three successive wins in which 11 goals were scored and just one conceded.

Midfielder Michael Carrick, likely to operate as a makeshift centre-back, said: "We won't take our foot off the pedal now.

"We are starting to play well now and we are scoring some goals so we want that to continue."

Chelsea are hoping to bounce back from last week's defeat at Manchester City as they host under-achieving Everton.

David Moyes' men, just three points above the bottom three, have won only once in their last nine Premier League outings but are in good heart after battling back from 2-0 down to draw with Tottenham.

Chelsea will be missing key midfielder Michael Essien, who faces a month out with a hamstring injury.

All eyes will be on James Beattie as Stoke take on Wigan at the Britannia Stadium.

The Potters striker was involved in an alleged dressing-room altercation with manager Tony Pulis last weekend but the club say the matter has now been resolved.

"As far as I'm concerned a line has been drawn under it and we move on," said Pulis, without revealing the exact nature of the dispute.

Portsmouth can move off the bottom of the table if they can win at Sunderland and fellow strugglers Bolton are beaten by Manchester City.

The other side in the bottom three, Wolves, travel to Tottenham while West Ham, just above them, are away at Birmingham.

Burnley will hope hoping to extend their impressive home record as Fulham visit Turf Moor and Hull boss Phil Brown takes on his former mentor as Sam Allardyce takes Blackburn to the KC Stadium.

"I'm looking forward to locking horns," said Brown. "We're friends apart from rivals but we have got a job to do against a Blackburn side who are in and around us in the Premier League."