Conte: Defeat Would Hit Reds Hard  (Sky Sports)

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte thinks it will be "a hard hit mentally" for title rivals Liverpool if they are beaten by the Blues at Anfield on Tuesday.

Conte's team have suffered just three Premier League defeats this season but one of them came at the hands of Liverpool, who won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge back in September.

Chelsea were beaten 3-0 at Arsenal shortly after but then embarked on a stunning 13-match winning streak which has taken them clear at the top of the table.

Liverpool have slipped 10 points behind in fourth after a miserable January and Conte thinks another defeat may end their title challenge.

"It could be a hard hit mentally for them," said the Chelsea boss.

"It's important to win this type of game, increase you confidence, take three points from a rival. I hope to change the result if you compare the first game and the first part of the season."

Liverpool have just one win in eight games this month but Conte says he remains wary of Jurgen Klopp's side.

"Liverpool's recent results are difficult to explain and I feel they have been unlucky," he said.

"Honestly, I think we are a different team, not Liverpool. I think that we grew a lot.

"After the [first Liverpool] game I said 'today we faced a great team, a really great team, but today we are not a team. Only through work we can improve to become a team'. I think it happened.

"We grew a lot and for this reason now we are top of the table."

A massive week for Chelsea ends with a visit from second-placed Arsenal on Saturday but Conte is adamant that the upcoming seven days will not be decisive.

"The result doesn't decide the season of Chelsea or Liverpool tomorrow," he added.

"It's a very important week, but also I know after two of these games we have 14 games to finish the championship.

"The results are important, but the championship doesn't finish after these two games."