TITLE RACE DOWN TO US AND UNITED BY MONDAY
BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP Big four gearing up for Sunday's key clashes TERRY: WE'LL KNOCK OUT KOP, MAN U CAN FINISH ARSENAL.. AND IT'S ONLY SEPTEMBER!
Martin Lipton Chief Football Writer
JOHN TERRY wants to blow Liverpool out of the title race early for the second season running on Sunday - and help make the Premiership a two-horse race.
Chelsea skipper Terry is out for revenge after last season's FA Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Rafa Benitez's men by making it five straight league wins over the Spaniard for Blues boss Jose Mourinho.
And the England captain accepts that a Chelsea victory, coupled with a Manchester United triumph over Arsenal at Old Trafford, would hole the Merseysiders and the Gunners below the waterline barely a month into the new season.
"We put Liverpool out of it when we won up at Anfield at the start of last season and I can see why people might be saying that it's down to us and United if we can both win," said Terry.
"When we played United a few years ago at home on the first weekend and beat them it set the tone for the whole season. When you can do that and win a big one it can be a massive statement.
"We know that the other teams will be watching to see what we do and if we can go out there and play well against Liverpool and win the match, the likes of United and the rest will have to stand up and pay attention to us.
"United are playing well at the minute but they've got to keep winning."
Liverpool are already five points behind the Blues and a further three points adrift of Old Trafford's early season pace-setters, although they are in a better state than Arsene Wenger's side, who will be a staggering 13 points in arrears of the leaders if they lose again.
A double-figure deficit, even at this stage of the campaign, would be a fatal blow to both Benitez and Wenger.
But Terry knows Liverpool will be even more fired-up than usual after their mauling at Goodison last week.
He said: "We're aware that they say wounded animals are the most dangerous and Liverpool will be feeling wounded after last week.
"I don't want to talk about what's happened in the past between us. It's about Sunday's game and what we do in that one.
"We're fit and we're coming into it with a lot of confidence. It's a big game for us, even though it's so early in the season.
"They got a bit of a thumping in their local derby, which is a massive game for them. So for the players, I'm sure they'll be very upset after Everton and the fans as well. All of them will be travelling down here to come and win something and it's vital that we go out and pick up another three points.
"I know it's so early on in the season but it is important we keep on doing that, especially our home games which have been a fortress for the last three seasons."
Chelsea have dropped just 12 points out of 120 at Stamford Bridge under Mourinho.
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CHELSEA - LIVERPOOL, 17 September 2006, Premiership Matchday 5
