THE hard-earned point at Anfield was a distant memory for Gareth Southgate soon after the final whistle on Saturday, with the Middlesbrough skipper's eyes firmly focused on a game he sees as Boro's biggest of the season.

The visit of Spurs to the Riverside next weekend sees the two teams directly battling for seventh spot in the Premier League and the final UEFA Cup place slug it out, with Boro knowing a win could guarantee them European football.

But with Manchester City - mounting a late run up the table - Southgate admitted the Teessiders may also need to go to the City of Manchester Stadium on the final Sunday of the season needing a positive result to ensure next season doesn't start in July with the Intertoto Cup.

Southgate himself has not even considered the possibility of Boro not qualifying directly for the UEFA Cup but, with the teams challenging for the final spot playing each other over the last two weeks of the season, the 34-year-old knows the race for a UEFA Cup spot still has many twists and turns.

He said: "It's (the Intertoto Cup) not something I've thought about all along. We have to beat Tottenham at home next weekend and we have to see what Man. City do against Villa.

"It might be that we have to go to City and get something there as well but, looking no further, we have to beat Tottenham to keep ourselves in pole position.

"It's a great opportunity for us. We don't know what's going to happen between Villa and Man City but if we beat Tottenham it is very likely that we will have seen off their challenge and that's as far as we can look.

"Three more points might be enough for us but we might need six. It could be any combination because the other teams have to play each other as well.

"It's going to be an intriguing finish but the main thing is that we're in there and all of our games are important."

Manager Steve McClaren labelled the two games as cup finals, and also praised his side for turning round their dip in form with a run of battling displays.

The Boro boss highlighted the attitude of his players - especially his skipper - as key to going to Newcastle and Liverpool and coming away with two battling draws.

"We can't really change it around and that's three fantastic displays in one week, said McClaren.

"It's culminated in five points and it could have been more. You have to have that commitment coming to Anfield and I think the players deserve the result.

"Two games to go and they're against arguably our closest rivals for that seventh spot. I said to our players two cup finals. Show the same attitude and we should do it.

"It (Southgate's performance) epitomises what we've got in that dressing room at the moment. We're in pole position for Europe. The players want it and I think at Anfield - this week certainly and for the whole of the season - they've shown how much they do want it.

"Southgate playing with stitches in his head, George Boateng and Doriva passing late fitness tests. The attitude is spot-on."

The Southgate appreciation society extended to the Liverpool camp with Steven Gerrard saying: "Gareth Southgate was magnificent and even when we piled the pressure on them we never created many clear-cut chances.''

Southgate, Boateng and Ugo Ehiogu were all integral to Boro taking a point at Anfield, with the former Aston Villa triumvirate calling on all their experience to help stop a 20-minute siege on their goal in the second-half resulting in a Liverpool win. Southgate, however, was impressed by all his team-mates, especially the back defence.

He said: "His (Ehiogu) physical presence is immense. He's a massive asset to us. Of course we've played together so often we tend to know where each other is.

"We're very fortunate here because Chris Riggott has done a superb job as well this season and Colin Cooper when he's come in as well. But I'm delighted for Ugo so he can show people that he can play again and that he's fit again. It's important for him to get some games under his belt.

"Andrew did a great job winning a lot of headers at the far post and showed a lot of composure - again on a big stage.

"Him and Brad (Jones) for two youngsters came and played here and were excellent. It was a very important point and the two points we got this week will be crucial."

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