Michael Ballack has admitted that Chelsea must beat Liverpool next Sunday to keep their title hopes well and truly alive.

Chelsea currently trail both league leaders Manchester United and second-placed Liverpool by a solitary point, although United do have a game in hand on their near rivals.

Given the tightness of the race to the top, a win at Anfield would provide a major boost for a Chelsea team who have - rather impressively - won eight of their 11 away league games thus far.

However, whilst the world awaits the weekend clash at Anfield, Luiz Feloipe Scolari's outfit have a more pressing engagement on which to focus - a home clash with struggling Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

Despite the importance of the Blues' trip to Merseyside, Ballack is all too aware of the importance attached to the Boro match, especially considering Chelsea have dropped 14 points from their 11 home league games so far this season.

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"We know it's difficult to win at Anfield but it's not impossible," the German international revealed.

"If we want to go back to the top, we have to win but Wednesday is the immediate focus.

"We have dropped too many points at home and we have to be careful.

"We've not had good performance this year against the big teams. That has to change if we are to win the title."

Ballack was also quick to admit that if Chelsea are to mount a serious title challenge, they must tighten up at set-pieces, a weakness exploited by Ipswich Town in the FA Cup on Saturday when the visiting Tractor Boys scored from a free-kick.

"We have to be focused, defend better and improve or we kill our good game."