Ian Rush: 'Liverpool could become title contenders if they beat Manchester United'

Ex Liverpool striker Ian Rush during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on October 5, 2013
© Getty Images
Ian Rush believes that Liverpool can challenge for the Premier League title this season if they defeat Manchester United tonight.

Former Liverpool striker Ian Rush has backed the Reds to push for the Premier League title if they defeat arch rivals Manchester United at Anfield this evening.

Jurgen Klopp's men head into tonight's encounter on the back of four straight victories in the top flight, while United are seventh in the league table, three points behind their fourth-placed opponents.

Rush believes that sealing a Champions League spot is the priority for Liverpool this season, but if they overcome Jose Mourinho's side tonight, they can set their sights on the league crown.

"We've been in this position a few times over the last few years," Rush told talkSPORT. "If we win tonight we'll go joint top and I genuinely believe that if we win tonight we can realistically start looking at [the title].

"At the start of the season Liverpool were probably looking at the top four as a realistic position, but if we can win tonight I think we can start looking up above that."

The Merseyside outfit were beaten 1-0 by United in this fixture last season.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal96211991020
2Liverpool96212011920
3Manchester CityMan City86111981119
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs9540134919
5Chelsea8512159616
6Everton9432138515
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd8422138514
8Southampton8332107312
9Watford93331313012
10Bournemouth93331212012
11Crystal Palace93241212011
12Leicester CityLeicester93241115-411
13West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom92431010010
14Burnley9315813-510
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham93151017-710
16Stoke CityStoke9234916-79
17Middlesbrough9144711-47
18Hull City9216822-147
19Swansea CitySwansea9126815-75
20Sunderland9027616-102