Frank Lampard has admitted Chelsea must avoid the 'unacceptable' scenario of ending the season without any silverware.
The Blues are in pole position to claim the Premier League crown for the first time in four years as they hold a one-point advantage over Manchester United with just two games remaining.
Lampard and his team-mates travel to Anfield to tackle Liverpool at lunchtime on Sunday, while the Red Devils are up against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light later in the day.
Chelsea also have an FA Cup final showdown with Portsmouth on the horizon, but Lampard admits that ending United's three-year stranglehold on English football's top prize is their main focus.
"There can be no excuses," he told the Sunday Mirror. "We know if we win our last two games there is nothing Manchester United can do. We are focused and know what is at stake.
"When you don't meet with success the disappointment is felt throughout the club.
"You take it personally as well. Failure doesn't sit comfortably with me, it never has.
"For a club of Chelsea's size and the investment that has taken place, failure to win a trophy is unacceptable.
"Last season was a disappointment in as much that we failed to deliver in the league and only managed to salvage something by winning the FA Cup."
The conspiracy theorists have claimed that Liverpool could be willing to allow Chelsea to leave Anfield with the points as they do not want Sir Alex Ferguson's men to claim a record 19th English crown, surpassing the Merseyside club's mark of 18.
But Lampard has brushed aside the far-fetched suggestions and believes the Blues will need to be at their best against familiar opponents.
"We have never had it easy at Liverpool," he said. "It's a very difficult fixture and we will need to be right on top of our game to come away with three points.
"There is absolutely no way Liverpool won't go about their business in a very professional way. They will not be thinking about Manchester United, they will just be focused on beating us regardless what is at stake for them."
The Blues are in pole position to claim the Premier League crown for the first time in four years as they hold a one-point advantage over Manchester United with just two games remaining.
Lampard and his team-mates travel to Anfield to tackle Liverpool at lunchtime on Sunday, while the Red Devils are up against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light later in the day.
Chelsea also have an FA Cup final showdown with Portsmouth on the horizon, but Lampard admits that ending United's three-year stranglehold on English football's top prize is their main focus.
"There can be no excuses," he told the Sunday Mirror. "We know if we win our last two games there is nothing Manchester United can do. We are focused and know what is at stake.
"When you don't meet with success the disappointment is felt throughout the club.
"You take it personally as well. Failure doesn't sit comfortably with me, it never has.
"For a club of Chelsea's size and the investment that has taken place, failure to win a trophy is unacceptable.
"Last season was a disappointment in as much that we failed to deliver in the league and only managed to salvage something by winning the FA Cup."
The conspiracy theorists have claimed that Liverpool could be willing to allow Chelsea to leave Anfield with the points as they do not want Sir Alex Ferguson's men to claim a record 19th English crown, surpassing the Merseyside club's mark of 18.
But Lampard has brushed aside the far-fetched suggestions and believes the Blues will need to be at their best against familiar opponents.
"We have never had it easy at Liverpool," he said. "It's a very difficult fixture and we will need to be right on top of our game to come away with three points.
"There is absolutely no way Liverpool won't go about their business in a very professional way. They will not be thinking about Manchester United, they will just be focused on beating us regardless what is at stake for them."
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