Lucas calls for vital win

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Third-placed Manchester United host Chelsea, currently second, 24 hours after the leaders go to Stoke. Given the Reds' impressive away record this season - they have won seven of their 10 league matches on the road - Lucas believes they cannot afford to drop points this weekend.

"We want to win because we want to stay on top of the league," said the Brazil midfielder. "Each point will be really important for us in the race for the title."

He added: "We have confidence and we have quality. We are producing some good performances and we are playing well as a team. We feel we can beat anyone.

"Liverpool have waited a long time to win the Premier League title and now we have a chance to win it.

"Christmas was a crucial time for us with a lot of games in a row but we got a lot of points which was good.

"If we can win on Saturday we can relax and then see what happens in the other game."

Lucas watched from the bench as Stoke frustrated Liverpool at home in a goalless draw back in September and knows it will not be easy at the Britannia Stadium.

"We had a difficult game against them at Anfield when we could only draw which was very frustrating," said Lucas. "Hopefully we will have more space on Saturday to pass the ball well and create more chances and put them away.

"They are near the bottom of the table so they will be trying to get the points but we will be ready for the game and we know what we have to do."