Steven Gerrard insists next weekend's crucial clash against Chelsea at Anfield won't decide the Premier League title and isn't worth six points. Liverpool go head to head with Luiz-Felipe Scolari's men on Sunday knowing victory would be a massive boost towards achieving their dream of winning their first title since 1990.But despite beating Chelsea away from home and Manchester United at home already this campaign, Gerrard says match-ups against the Big Four aren't necessarily the key to title glory. That much has been proved in recent weeks after Liverpool dropped crucial points by drawing against both Everton and Stoke.
So it means Wednesday's trip to Wigan could prove every bit as important at the end of the season as the big match against Chelsea four days later.
Gerrard warned: "I don't agree that the title race comes down to the matches between the big four, I don't agree with that at all.
"I think it's important you do take points off the other top sides. But the games against teams below you and those down at the foot of the Premiership table are just as important.
"You only get three points for a win at the end of the day, so to beat someone in the bottom three is just as crucial as beating someone in the top three. It's worth the same. It's important we don't slip up against teams we should be beating."
Gerrard believes Liverpool are still on target to be title contenders despite allowing Manchester United to take over top spot in the last fortnight. But he admits it won't be easy.
He added: "We're up against some fantastic teams in Chelsea, United, Arsenal and Villa. Other teams are putting pressure on the top four as well.
"There's so much pressure week in week out to deliver results. We need to learn to handle that pressure. We need to learn how to deal with it. We need to keep doing the things that got us to the top in the first place."
So it means Wednesday's trip to Wigan could prove every bit as important at the end of the season as the big match against Chelsea four days later.
Gerrard warned: "I don't agree that the title race comes down to the matches between the big four, I don't agree with that at all.
"I think it's important you do take points off the other top sides. But the games against teams below you and those down at the foot of the Premiership table are just as important.
"You only get three points for a win at the end of the day, so to beat someone in the bottom three is just as crucial as beating someone in the top three. It's worth the same. It's important we don't slip up against teams we should be beating."
Gerrard believes Liverpool are still on target to be title contenders despite allowing Manchester United to take over top spot in the last fortnight. But he admits it won't be easy.
He added: "We're up against some fantastic teams in Chelsea, United, Arsenal and Villa. Other teams are putting pressure on the top four as well.
"There's so much pressure week in week out to deliver results. We need to learn to handle that pressure. We need to learn how to deal with it. We need to keep doing the things that got us to the top in the first place."
