Liverpool's joint top scorer Dirk Kuyt maintains the Anfield club dare not take their foot off the gas in their hunt for a first title in 19 years.

And the Dutchman also insists they must not look upon a favourable run of fixtures before the new year as in any way easy.

Kuyt said: "People say that we are facing a run of games that we should be capable of winning."

He added: "But we know that we can beat the top sides and still lose to the clubs lower down. We do not want to look too far ahead, all the games are difficult.

"We have shown that by beating Manchester United and then drawing with Stoke in the next match. We beat Chelsea but then lost at Spurs soon after.

"We are aware it is really difficult every time in the Premier League, we must be right on top of our game for every match."

Liverpool's next seven league matches include only one against a top-four side - Arsenal away on December 21 - and only one other against a team currently in the top nine, Hull at home on December 13.

The rest are against 10th-placed Fulham, on Saturday, West Ham, Blackburn, Bolton and Newcastle.