Liverpool may well be level on points with the Blues, with United eight adrift with a match in hand, but Ballack reckons they remain "a club for the Champions League".

All three clubs were held to goalless draws at the weekend, while Arsenal slipped to a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City to fall out of the top four in the table.

very difficult

Ballack said: "It's always the big four that everyone speaks about but I think it's still about Chelsea and Man United.

"Arsenal are already behind which makes it very difficult for them.

"Liverpool are very good at this moment but for me they are always a club for the Champions League, partly because they can put all their focus on one or two matches.

"But when you look at results and squads over the past couple of seasons as a whole, I think us and Man U are just a little bit stronger."