Carrick insists they must not allow the Blues to open up a five-point advantage in the Premier League.
“It is always a big game at Stamford Bridge, no matter what the occasion is,” Carrick said.
“When it is tight at the top like it is, after the defeat to Liverpool we do not want to lose track on the big teams and it will be an important game for us.
“At this stage of the season it is just about accumulating points and seeing where you are in the later stages.
“The table is changing week in, week out but after Christmas things tend to settle down a bit.
“Then maybe you get one or two that pull away – and hopefully we will be included in that. You’ve just got to believe in yourself and if you do, anything can happen.”
