Liverpool star Adam Lallana: Win over Manchester United 'gets us one foot in the top four'

Adam Lallana feels Liverpool can take a real psychological advantage over Manchester United with victory over their arch-rivals on 22 March.

Manager Brendan Rodgers's side sit just two points behind fourth-placed United and can haul themselves into a Champions League spot with a win at Anfield at the expense of the Red Devils.

Liverpool, who finished last season as Premier League runners' up, have the more favourable fixture list in the remaining eight games of the season, following the fixture against Louis van Gaal's team, with United still to face tests against Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton.

And Lallana believes three points will see his side firmly grab the initiative in the race for a top-four finish. "Psychologically for us it is massive," Lallana told Talksport. "If we win we go above United and we get one foot into the top four."

Lallana added: "There are still another eight games after and there is going to be twists and turns constantly I'm sure. Tottenham and Southampton are still in and around the fight as well so they are going to be wanting to pick up points to make it three teams out of six trying to get in the top four. It is exciting for the neutral and I'm sure it will go down to the wire."

Liverpool suffered a 3-0 defeat to United on their trip to Old Trafford in December 2014. That win saw Van Gaal's side move into third place and open up a 10-point lead on their arch rivals.

Since then, Rodgers's side have won 10 of their last 13 league games without losing any, with the recent win at Swansea City their six consecutive clean sheet on the road.

United last won at Anfield in 2012, when goals from Robin van Persie and Rafael da Silva clinched all three points for then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson.