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Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez acknowledges that his side's Premier League title challenge will be as good as over if arch rivals Manchester United are not defeated on Saturday.
Benitez's side led the table earlier in the season and looked well placed for a first piece of league silverware since 1990, but they have since fallen off the pace and defending champions United, who have eyes on a quintuple, have carved out a seven-point lead at the summit.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men also enjoy the luxury of a game in hand, and Benitez is well aware of the significance of a lunchtime trip to Old Trafford, where the Spaniard has yet to record a win in four attempts.
Morale on Merseyside has rocketed after Tuesday's rampage over Real Madrid, however, league hopes are hanging by a thread and former Valencia boss Benitez knows that anything less than three points could prove fatal.
"It is most important," Benitez told Sky Sports News when asked about the status of the meeting with United.
"We are trying to reduce the gap, so to be in the race for the title you have to win.
Pride
"The only thing that we can do now is win the next game, get three points, and see the situation."
Benitez, though, confesses that even becoming the first Premier League side this season to leave Old Trafford with a victory may not be enough.
"We don't know if we can stop them winning the title, but at least we can try," he added.
"When you talk about them, you talk about a big squad with a lot of good players so you can keep the consistency."
Benitez also recognises the pride Liverpool supporters take from a record haul of 18 league titles, which United will equal if they triumph again this term.
"Everybody here is pleased that we have 18 titles," he said. "But, again some things you can't change.
"The only thing we can do now is get three points, reduce the gap, and try to win."
Benitez's side led the table earlier in the season and looked well placed for a first piece of league silverware since 1990, but they have since fallen off the pace and defending champions United, who have eyes on a quintuple, have carved out a seven-point lead at the summit.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men also enjoy the luxury of a game in hand, and Benitez is well aware of the significance of a lunchtime trip to Old Trafford, where the Spaniard has yet to record a win in four attempts.
Morale on Merseyside has rocketed after Tuesday's rampage over Real Madrid, however, league hopes are hanging by a thread and former Valencia boss Benitez knows that anything less than three points could prove fatal.
"It is most important," Benitez told Sky Sports News when asked about the status of the meeting with United.
"We are trying to reduce the gap, so to be in the race for the title you have to win.
Pride
"The only thing that we can do now is win the next game, get three points, and see the situation."
Benitez, though, confesses that even becoming the first Premier League side this season to leave Old Trafford with a victory may not be enough.
"We don't know if we can stop them winning the title, but at least we can try," he added.
"When you talk about them, you talk about a big squad with a lot of good players so you can keep the consistency."
Benitez also recognises the pride Liverpool supporters take from a record haul of 18 league titles, which United will equal if they triumph again this term.
"Everybody here is pleased that we have 18 titles," he said. "But, again some things you can't change.
"The only thing we can do now is get three points, reduce the gap, and try to win."
