Liverpool FC will look to arrest a run of three consecutive Premier League draws when second-placed Chelsea FC arrive at Anfield on Sunday, to reignite their bid for a first championship since 1990.
Wigan woe
The Reds' latest failure to secure maximum points came at Wigan Athletic FC on Wednesday night when an 83rd-minute penalty from Mido denied them the chance to draw level with Manchester United FC at the summit. That was the Merseysiders' seventh draw in ten league matches, a run of results which has allowed a water-tight United team to assume pole position in the title race and drop Liverpool down to third.
Contract talks
Indeed, since a public spat between manager Rafael Benítez and United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson, Liverpool have failed to earn a win, dropping points against Stoke City FC, Everton FC and Wigan. United, meanwhile, have emerged victorious from their last six outings and the lead Liverpool took into the new year has melted away, evaporating into a two-point deficit having played a game more.
'Beat anyone'
Amid all the discussion about Liverpool's chances, it is easy to overlook the fact that the Reds have lost just once in the league this term − at Tottenham Hotspur FC in November − and Benítez witnessed enough against Wigan to know his side are more than capable of overturning Chelsea. "We have an important game on Sunday," said Benítez. "And if we play like we did in the first half we can beat anyone. All the games will be important until the end of the season. It depends on the other teams too but we have to try to play well and try to win."
'Positive attitude'
Chelsea will provide stiff opposition having won their last four in all competitions since a 3-0 defeat by United last month, and will have extra motivation to succeed at Anfield given that Liverpool ended the west London club's 86-match unbeaten home record in the league when the teams met in late Ocotber. "It's a massive game," said Ray Wilkins, the Chelsea assistant manager. "We just worry about ourselves, we go there in a very positive frame of mind and we will take the game by the scruff of the neck and hopefully win it. We always start any game with a positive attitude because we know what we have backing us up."

