Carrick piles heat on rivals

MICHAEL Carrick feels Barclays Premier League table–toppers Liverpool will have every reason to be afraid if Manchester United beat Chelsea on Sunday.

The Red Devils tackle Luiz Felipe Scolari's men at Old Trafford knowing victory would take them to within a point of the Blues and keep them in striking distance of Liverpool, who still have to visit the Theatre of Dreams themselves in March.

It is a position United would have taken at the start of the season given the arduous demands of an opening to the campaign Sir Alex Ferguson insists has been 'handicapped' to his side's disadvantage, especially as they currently have two games in hand.

"If I was in their shoes I would want to be as far ahead as I possibly could be," said Carrick.

"At this stage of the season we could have been a lot further behind than we are when you consider all the away games, especially after Champions League matches, and the fact our two games in hand are both at home.

"We are very positive at the moment.”