With both their sides having recorded wins on Tuesday, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and Chelsea’s Guus Hiddink say the title race is far from over.

Liverpool recovered from the weekend blip away to Middlesbrough by beating Sunderland 2 – 0 at Anfield while a Didier Drogba strike was good enough for Chelsea who earned a 1 – 0 victiory away to Portsmouth.

Both sides now sit 4 points behind Manchester United, although Sir Alex Ferguson’s team has games in handing, starting on Wednesday away to Newcastle.

However, a more telling game will be United at home to Liverpool on 14th March, and Benitez said:

If we win that, things may well be a lot different.

United are in a good position. United have experience but clearly it’s important for us to win.

Chelsea won too so United have to win if they want to keep the difference.

This win has lifted everyone’s spirits after the bad defeat at the weekend.

We needed a win. The team needed to show character and that is what they produced.

Meanwhile Hiddink, who has overseen 3 league wins plus success in the Champions League against Juventus since taking charge at Stamford Bridge, was delighted with his side saying:

United have games in hand and they have a buffer.

They are an experienced team but that is why it is good that we keep on winning. It keeps the pressure on. It is good for everyone in this championship to keep the pressure on the number one team.

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