Liverpool will make Chelsea fight for title

Steven Gerrard insists Liverpool have no intention of giving Chelsea an easy ride in Sunday’s crucial showdown at Anfield.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team are one point ahead of Manchester United with two games to play and a victory on Merseyside would move them within touching distance of the Premier League title.

Some Liverpool fans wouldn’t be too upset about that as it would almost certainly deny arch rivals United a 19^th English crown, which would surpass the Reds’ own total of 18.

But Liverpool captain Gerrard knows his side still have an outside chance of snatching fourth place and qualification for the Champions League, so he expects Rafael Benitez’s side to give everything to beat the Blues this weekend.

‘We have a couple of games left and the idea is to take maximum points and see if we can get into the Champions League through the back door,’ Gerrard told The Sun.

‘If we take maximum points, who knows? The teams above us might slip up. All we have done is keep the pressure on.

‘We won’t give up but it would be stupid of me to say this or that is going to happen - it’s important to be realistic.

‘We are underdogs for fourth position but our fans also know we’ve got Everton breathing down our necks and we certainly don’t want them finishing above us.’

Although Chelsea will fancy their chances against a Liverpool team missing star striker Fernando Torres, they know failure to win at Anfield would give United a chance to regain top spot with a win at Sunderland later on Sunday.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, who scored twice in Sunday’s 7-0 win over Stoke, is convinced Gerrard and company won’t be surrender the three points without a fight.

‘There is no chance that 11 Liverpool players can go out and consider United winning the championship on this game,’ Lampard said.

‘They play only to win games and would not be unprofessional. They will give it everything, there’s no doubt about that.

‘But the message from us is that we can go to Anfield and get three points.

‘If you want to be champions, you have to go to these kind of places and bring back the title.’

United striker Wayne Rooney, currently sidelined with a groin injury, will be watching the Anfield clash in the hope that his friend and fellow Scouser Gerrard can do the champions a favour.

Gerrard scored twice in Sunday’s 4-0 win at Burnley and Rooney believes his England team-mate will always give 100 percent for the Liverpool cause.

‘I don’t need to have a word with Stevie about making sure Liverpool win. You see what a good player and competitor he is even in friendly games,’ Rooney said.

‘He wants to win and I’m sure he will want to win this one. Liverpool are fighting to get into Europe and with the history behind the club I’m sure they are all determined.

‘It is the last home game of the season and their fans will not really be too pleased if they don’t turn up.’