Daryl Janmaat believes Watford need at least four more wins this season in order to keep themselves in the Premier League.

The Hornets have won just five league games so far during the current campaign, but the full-back thinks they will have to almost double that tally in order to retain their top flight status.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's tricky tie with undefeated league leaders Liverpool, Janmaat said Watford had no excuses for not picking up victories in games against the teams closest to them in the table, but that bonus points from more difficult games might be required too.

"We know there's 11 finals left and we have to probably take four or five more wins, maybe, 12 or 15 points more," he said.

"We have to make sure we can do that. We have enough opportunities because we have some games left at home against teams around us and they are the games that we have to win, there's no excuses. From there, you hope to get some bonus points from the big teams that we probably need as well."

While Janmaat feels that there is enough quality in the squad to reach that target, he thinks they first need to move on and forget about recent defeats and games in which they have thrown away points from winning positions.

The Hornets are winless in their last five games, despite opening the scoring in three of those matches, something which the 30-year-old knows can prey on players' minds.

"If it happens a few games in a row, maybe it can go in your head, but I think we have to look forward now," he said.

"I'm confident that we have enough quality to stay up, but it's not only about quality, it's about everything around and we have to keep the heads cool and make sure we will take it game by game and get the points that we really need.

"We don't want to get relegated of course. It's going to be really tough, but all the teams around us now are so close, so tight and we have to be positive."

Janmaat is hoping to play his part in the final stages of the season, although he is likely to miss Liverpool this weekend, despite returning to training this week.

He is aiming to return for the game at Crystal Palace the following weekend and said it has been difficult for him having to watch on from the sidelines after picking up an unexpected knee injury.

"It was really difficult, I was playing all the games and it was like an injury you wouldn't expect," he said.

"It was an infection, I'd never had that, it was really in the joint and my knee was really swollen and there was only one way, that was the surgery and I had to take it. I'm happy to be back."