Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has urged his team-mates to finish the title race against Liverpool with the same commitment and spirit that saw them destroy Stoke 7-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The thrashing put the Blues back on top of the Barclays Premier League by a single point ahead of Manchester United and they now face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday and with the Reds gunning for a Champions League place, Lampard knows it will probably be the pivotal moment of an enthralling season in the top flight.
"The win against Stoke doesn't count for anything now," declared Lampard. "Of course you want to carry the momentum through and it is helpful to take confidence into the next game. "But if we don't turn up at Anfield, play slow and without the same intensity that we did against Stoke, then we will lose, it is simple as that."
Victory for the Reds would help their chances of finishing in the top four but at the same time it would almost certainly hand the title to Sir Alex Ferguson's side, who travel to Sunderland for a 4pm kick-off on Sunday.
That would mean United moving ahead of Liverpool for most league championships as the pair are currently tied on 18 each.
But Lampard insists handing the record to United will not figure in the minds of Liverpool's players next weekend and urged his team-mates to show the same intensity they did against the Potters.
He added: "There is no chance 11 Liverpool players will go out and consider United winning the title on what happens in that game. They will go out to win. They will want to be professional.
"There is no way they will think about anything else other than winning the game, regardless of whether it helps them get in the Champions League or not. They will give everything, there is no doubt about that.
"It is a difficult match but it's not a case of us worrying. Everyone is aware that when they go to Liverpool it will be difficult, whatever stage of the season it is.
"Win two games and we win the league, if we don't, we may have to rely on goal difference -- it depends on Manchester United's results."
Source: PA
