Fabio Aurelio believes Liverpool head into their Sunday showdown with Man United in their best form since he joined the club.
The Brazilian left-back insists Liverpool's seven game winning run should give them great confidence as they prepare to take on the Premier League table toppers at Old Trafford.
United moved three points clear at the top of the league in midweek thanks to a 2-0 win over Bolton in which Cristiano Ronaldo scored for the fourth successive game.
But Aurelio says the Reds will not be intimidated by Alex Ferguson's side and will arrive at Old Trafford tomorrow looking for the three points which would allow them to close the gap on the league leaders.
"We are playing very well at the moment and we have to take our recent form into this game," he said. "Obviously, United are a good team and it will be a tough test for us but we have confidence because we have won our last seven games.
"Our form is very good, I think we are playing as well now as we have at any time during the last couple of seasons, and if we play as well as we can against United then of course we have a chance.”
If Aurelio is selected he will come up against 33-goal Ronaldo – the only United player to score for Ferguson's side in their last four games – but he insists he is not daunted by that prospect.
"Obviously, Ronaldo is a good player," he said. "We know that and we know also that United have other good players so we will have to be prepared.
"But, like I said, we are playing well so we won't have any fears.
"The confidence we have at the moment is very important because it means that even if we go a goal down, like we did against Reading last week, we still have the belief that we can change the situation.
"We have some big games coming up and we have to be ready. We know that our form over the last few weeks will not matter unless we win our next games.
"So we have to keep on working hard and doing what we have been doing so we are able to fight against the top teams."
Despite having been off the pace for much of the season, Xabi Alonso believes a win against United would give Liverpool an outside chance of mounting a late title challenge.
He said: "Now we are entering the decisive moments of the season.
"To be champions is difficult but not impossible. We are developing a sensational run and we have not given up on anything.
"Our match against United is key. A victory at Old Trafford would open up our chances for the end of season and it would be a big blow in the Premier League for United.
"Our objective is to go to Manchester and win and it would not surprise me if we did. We are playing our best football of the season."
The Brazilian left-back insists Liverpool's seven game winning run should give them great confidence as they prepare to take on the Premier League table toppers at Old Trafford.
United moved three points clear at the top of the league in midweek thanks to a 2-0 win over Bolton in which Cristiano Ronaldo scored for the fourth successive game.
But Aurelio says the Reds will not be intimidated by Alex Ferguson's side and will arrive at Old Trafford tomorrow looking for the three points which would allow them to close the gap on the league leaders.
"We are playing very well at the moment and we have to take our recent form into this game," he said. "Obviously, United are a good team and it will be a tough test for us but we have confidence because we have won our last seven games.
"Our form is very good, I think we are playing as well now as we have at any time during the last couple of seasons, and if we play as well as we can against United then of course we have a chance.”
If Aurelio is selected he will come up against 33-goal Ronaldo – the only United player to score for Ferguson's side in their last four games – but he insists he is not daunted by that prospect.
"Obviously, Ronaldo is a good player," he said. "We know that and we know also that United have other good players so we will have to be prepared.
"But, like I said, we are playing well so we won't have any fears.
"The confidence we have at the moment is very important because it means that even if we go a goal down, like we did against Reading last week, we still have the belief that we can change the situation.
"We have some big games coming up and we have to be ready. We know that our form over the last few weeks will not matter unless we win our next games.
"So we have to keep on working hard and doing what we have been doing so we are able to fight against the top teams."
Despite having been off the pace for much of the season, Xabi Alonso believes a win against United would give Liverpool an outside chance of mounting a late title challenge.
He said: "Now we are entering the decisive moments of the season.
"To be champions is difficult but not impossible. We are developing a sensational run and we have not given up on anything.
"Our match against United is key. A victory at Old Trafford would open up our chances for the end of season and it would be a big blow in the Premier League for United.
"Our objective is to go to Manchester and win and it would not surprise me if we did. We are playing our best football of the season."
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