Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Manchester United will be feeling the strain in the title race after the reds closing the gap at the top of the table to just one point.
Rafa Benitez’s men capitalised on United’s surprise 2-0 defeat to Fulham on Saturday with a 5-0 demolition of Aston Villa on Sunday to move within a point of the leaders, albeit having played a game more.
Carragher acknowledged the title is still United’s to lose hands, but the defender feels his side are hitting form at just the right time in the season.
“This will have sent a message out to United and Chelsea,” said Carragher. “Let’s not kid ourselves, they’d have been watching the game.
“When you play Real Madrid and Manchester United and score so many goals, you know in the back of your mind that can’t happen every week so to get five against Villa was a magnificent achievement.
“If we’d have dropped points against Villa, United’s defeat at Fulham wouldn’t have made that much of a difference but we’ve capitalised on it.
“Now United will realise they are in a fight for the league.”
Carragher believes Liverpool have recovered well from a lapse in form at the turn of the year which saw United displace them at the top of the Premier League.
“We are maturing and getting used to the demands of fighting for a title,” he said.
“We were there earlier in the season but, having not been in that position before, maybe we didn’t know how to deal with it.
“We’ve probably found it difficult a few times this season to cope with that.
“We’re well aware that the title is in Manchester United’s hands, but we’re trying to put them under as much pressure as possible.”
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