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Jose Mourinho claims Liverpool are the title-race danger-men because they are the one contender not liable to a spring meltdown.

Chelsea boss Mourinho believes the imminent return of the Champions League could destabilise any of the current top three.

Arsenal and Manchester City face titanic first legs against holders Bayern Munich and Barcelona respectively next week, before Chelsea travel to Turkish heavyweights Galatasaray in a fortnight.

But while the Reds' lack of European football has been a problem for manager Brendan Rodgers in the transfer market, Mourinho suspects it is a wild card factor that could yet see the Anfield club emerge top of the pile by May.

Echoing comments he made in December, The Special One said: "People are asking if Arsenal might fall apart after what happened at Liverpool, but it can happen to any one of the three of us - any one - but not Liverpool, because they have this stability of playing one match a week.

"If they lose a match or have an injury, everything is more stable. For all of us involved in the Champions League and Premier League race, facing match after match, you do find the concentration and the focus is split by the Champions League.

"You start to think about, 'We don't want to play this player because we have the Champions League [coming up]' and 'We want to rest this player or that one'. But none of us is free for that to happen.

"I would be disappointed if my team collapses and can't keep the level. But if we keep this level, even if we lose points and matches and don't win the league, I wouldn't be disappointed."

The fixture list seems to favour Chelsea, with the May trip to Anfield their only away game left at a top six opponent, while Arsenal, Spurs and Everton all have to visit Stamford Bridge.

City, like the west Londoners, must travel to Anfield but also have to go to the Emirates, Old Trafford and Goodison, while Arsenal face a North London derby at White Hart Lane in the middle of a brutal run of games that continues against champions United on Wednesday.

Liverpool, though, also have Spurs to come to Anfield and while they have to go to Old Trafford, Mourinho feels Rodgers' men can take full toll of their lack of midweek football.

(Image: Laurence Griffiths)

He added: "Liverpool are in a similar situation to us. They didn't start the season as top favourites, they have a couple of very experienced players, like Stevie Gerrard and the central defenders.

"They are also a very young team and developing, with a manager who is very good. But the fact they don't play Champions League is very important for them.

"When the Champions League comes, it's a big thing for the other teams. Liverpool only play one match every week, and that makes a real difference at the end of the season, March to May. This can play a big role.

"People think the head-to-head matches are key but maybe the teams not in the top four will be very influential in the league.

"Normally, people are pushed to say Chelsea against Arsenal, or Arsenal against City, or Liverpool against City, that these are the matches that decide things. But maybe they aren't. In other leagues, it is like that. Madrid versus Barcelona decides the title. Benfica against Porto decides the title.

"It's not the same situation here. The title is decided match after match."