Gerrard urges Reds to go for the Chelsea jugular

Chelsea captain John Terry (L) holds off his Liverpool counterpart Steven Gerrard during the Champions League match on September 28. Gerrard has called on his Liverpool team-mates to go for Chelsea's jugular in Sunday's Premiership showdown at Anfield.

Steven Gerrard has called on his Liverpool team-mates to go for Chelsea's jugular in Sunday's Premiership showdown at Anfield.

After a Champions League stalemate on Wednesday night, Gerrard believes Liverpool can end Chelsea's perfect start to their league campaign with a bolder approach this weekend.

"I think we could do with being a little more adventurous in certain areas and push on that little bit more, while a bit of luck also wouldn't go amiss," Gerrard said Friday.

"If decisions had gone our way on Wednesday we'd have won so there's no reason to believe we can't win on Sunday."

"We know we can get at Chelsea and that we can beat them."

The 25-year-old, who came close to joining Chelsea in the summer, added: "I know what Jose Mourinho has been saying about this being a 'must-win' game for us and that we'll be out of the title race if we don't.

"A defeat would certainly make life more difficult for us but it's too early in the season for that kind of talk.

"It is a hugely important game, that's for sure, but every time we play at home is a must-win for Liverpool. Three points are a necessity for us whoever we are playing and we'll be approaching it like we do any other.

"Everyone is saying that they are invincible and unbeatable, and that no one was going to take any points off them but we have proved to ourselves that the gap is not that big.

"On Wednesday I think the first half was pretty even and that we cancelled each other out a bit, but we made all the running in the second half. Overall I would say we controlled the game and were the team that looked like they wanted to win it more.

"The result gives us massive belief that we can match them again and take the game to them. It also instills a confidence in us that we can claim all three points."

Reds boss Rafael Benitez, who hopes to have Fernando Morientes and Mohamed Sissoko back in his squad after injuries, believes his side's rivalry with the champions is now more intense than even the one between Liverpool and Manchester United.

"People used to talk about the rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool. Arsenal came onto the scene and were the best team for a few seasons and everyone wanted to beat them, but now it's Chelsea.

"When you know you're competing with each other for trophies, there is sure to be a rivalry. They try to play mind games with us with their words, but we always stay focused on our game."