PREVIEW: Liverpool look to pile pressure on United in title race

London - Liverpool will be looking to maintain their momentum this weekend and pile the pressure on champions Manchester United in the race for the English Premier League title. Rafael Benitez's side can go two points clear of United at the top - though they will have played two games more - by winning at Fulham on Saturday. Having hammered Real Madrid, United and Aston Villa in a 13-goal barrage in their three previous games, Liverpool are in a rich vein of form, but Fulham will be no pushovers, having beaten United 2-0 last time round. 'Chelsea only drew at Craven Cottage, (Fulham) defeated Arsenal there earlier on in the season and we couldn't beat them at Anfield so we're talking about a very tough game for us, but we've got to make sure we're not another big team to drop points there,' Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said. 'We've got an opportunity to go top of the league with United playing Sunday and it's one we've got to take. We've got to try and pick up three points in every game and try to catch United. When the game is finished on Saturday, we want to be top of the league.' While Liverpool go for top spot, though, many eyes will turn to St James's Park, where Alan Shearer will lead Newcastle for the first time. The former England and Newcastle captain was installed as manager of his home-town club on Wednesday night and will take the reins for eight games until the end of the season. Newcastle are buried in a relegation dog-fight and Shearer's first task will be to inspire his players ahead of the visit of Chelsea on Saturday. 'It's a club I love and I don't want them to go down. I'll do everything I can to stop that,' Shearer said. Champions United, not in action until Sunday, will be out to avoid the ignominy of losing three Premier League games in a row when they welcome Aston Villa to Old Trafford. The defeat by Liverpool was followed by a shock reverse at Fulham but striker Dimitar Berbatov said he expected United to bounce back. 'We need to really believe in our quality and our ability,' the Bulgarian said. 'I think the gaffer will know the right encouragement to give us to prepare for the games we have.' At the other end of the table, bottom side West Bromwich Albion take on Stoke City in a match they almost certainly have to win to stand any chance of avoiding relegation. Second-from-bottom Middlesbrough travel to Bolton Wanderers, while Blackburn Rovers, who sit one place above the drop zone, entertain Tottenham Hotspur. Fourth-placed Arsenal play Manchester City, while Everton host Wigan Athletic, Hull City take on Portsmouth and West Ham welcome Sunderland.