Mata eyes Liverpool scalp after Cup win at Chelsea

Manchester United will be looking to derail Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes when they host the Merseyside club at Old Trafford on Sunday, midfielder Juan Mata has said after his team ended Chelsea’s FA Cup title defence on Monday.

United beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge to set up a quarter-final clash at Wolverhampton Wanderers and now switch their attention back to the Premier League and the top-four race.

“It is one of those games that we have in our calendar with a red spot waiting for it. It is one of the big ones,” Mata told reporters.

“Obviously we want to win. We play at home and hopefully it will be a very good day for us at Old Trafford.”

Liverpool are tied with Manchester City at the top of the table on 65 points having played one game fewer than the defending champions.

United, who were 11 points off the top four when Solskjaer took charge in December, are currently fourth with 51 points, a point above both Arsenal and Chelsea.

“In the Premier League our main target is to get top four after a very good run of results,” Mata added. “One or two months ago it seemed pretty impossible to get where we are now.”