Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal still have a realistic chance of proving their doubters wrong and winning the Barclays Premier League title.
The Gunners head into Wednesday's showdown with Liverpool having come up short against both Manchester United and Chelsea.
Arsenal are now nine points off the pace following Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, after which Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack claimed Wenger's side were too predicable while the pundits have already writing them off as serious title challengers.
Nevertheless, the Frenchman takes solace from the way his side hauled back an 11-point deficit following a home defeat by Chelsea at the end of November, as a 10-match unbeaten run saw them briefly top the table.
Given Carlo Ancelotti's men head to improving Everton and United travel to top-six hopefuls Aston Villa, the scenario could have changed once more come Thursday morning.
"I sit here in every single press conference and the situation of the moment is like it is forever. Sport is change, movement and we have to accept that," said Wenger.
"Of course it is realistic to still think we can catch Manchester United and Chelsea - why not?
"Everybody will drop points.
"We have already played all the big teams.
"We have a long way to go. We still have 13 games to play and 39 points to take.
"At the moment, it [the deficit] is a disadvantage, but let's continue to believe in what we do and play our game against Liverpool with belief."
Wenger added: "It is our job not to let people think the situation is definite.
"I can understand people's conclusions, but our job is to fight and not to give up.
"We must fight to win the league - if we don't have that belief, it cannot happen."
While Wenger accepts there is still a lot of football left to be played before the silverware is handed out in May, the Arsenal manager has called on his players to show the strength of character needed to get their campaign back on track, after what was a third defeat in four games ahead of the resumption of Champions League action away to Porto next week.
He said: "I am sure mathematically it [winning the league] can happen, and if you look at the fixtures it can really happen.
"But it is down to how much we believe and how much we refuse to give up and how much we can stick together despite all the conclusions."
Arsenal's main weakness appears to be in defence as they have shipped 30 goals in the Premier League this season - 10 more than rivals Chelsea and United.
While recent lapses in concentration at the back and non-existent marking have cost the Gunners heavily, Wenger maintains the errors are simple to fix.
He said: "It is important that I show support to my players and think collectively about how we cannot repeat the mistakes which happened to us in the last two games.
"Having looked at the way we have conceded the last two goals, it looks to me quite easy to solve, and that is it.
"It is important that we support each other and show solidarity and that people who try to destroy that are not right."
Wenger added: "This is a team that really wants to win and you have seen that against Chelsea, until the last minute of the game."
With Eduardo still out because of a hamstring problem, Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner could offer Arsenal a different option in attack, after looking lively when he came off the bench at Stamford Bridge.
There had been calls for Arsenal - missing Holland international Robin van Persie with a long-term ankle injury - to bring in another forward during the January transfer window.
The Gunners were linked with Marouane Chamakh, the Bordeaux striker now free to talk to other clubs, and even sign a pre-contract agreement as his deal in France runs out at the end of the season.
Wenger, though, maintained: "We are talking to nobody. We are focusing on tomorrow's game against Liverpool.
"I believe he talks to many clubs, what he is entitled to do.
"Chamakh is free to sign a pre-contract.
"He is free to sign where he wants, but I cannot interfere in that."
