Jamie Carragher wants Liverpool to be top of the Premier League by tomorrow night to put maximum pressure on Manchester United.

Liverpool face Fulham at Craven Cottage in tomorrow's evening kick-off, with United not playing until Sunday at home to Aston Villa. With the title race hotting up, and Liverpool on the crest of a wave of form, any edge the Anfield club can get could be crucial.

"We have got an opportunity to go top of the league with United playing on Sunday and it is one we have got to take," said Carragher. "We have got to try to pick up three points in every game and try to catch United. A draw is probably not a great result, even though we can go top with a point because of the goal difference. But when the game is finished on Saturday, we want to be top of the league."

Carragher, 31, knows it is vital that Liverpool take maximum points from all their remaining fixtures to pile the pressure on the champions. "You would not have expected United to lose two games on the bounce," he said. "That is the way the title race is in England, though. Every game is very difficult and it just goes to show how well we have done this season when United lose two games in a week, but we've only lost two league games all season.

"We are only one point behind now. United still have a game in hand, but between now and the end of the season our aim is to try to win every game so their extra game doesn't count."

Carragher added that he was grateful to his former Liverpool team-mate Danny Murphy after the Fulham midfielder played a vital role in the latest title twist by scoring the first of the west London club's goals in the 2–0 defeat of United a fortnight ago. "I sent Danny a text before the game to wish him luck and another one afterwards to say thank you," said Carragher. "He did us a favour, but it is up to us to capitalise now."

Liverpool have doubts over the fitness of defender Sami Hyypia, although the knee injury he picked up playing for Finland against Wales last weekend is not as bad as first thought.