Jurgen Klopp Saturday’s blockbuster clash with Manchester United represents a “big opportunity” for Liverpool to kick-start their season after a series of disappointing results.
The Reds head into the prestigious fixture on the back of a tricky run which has seen them win just one of their last seven games.
Nonetheless, a victory against their arch nemeses, who currently sit joint top of the table, could quickly transform the mood around Anfield.
“It’s a big, big, big opportunity,” the German said. “We are, as you probably see, a little bit different, but we are in a really good moment.
“Not result-wise, not scoring-wise, but performance is not as bad as probably a lot of people think.
“We are not so weak that we have to think that we don’t have a chance against Man United.
“It’s Anfield, it’s our stadium, it’s the first game with the Kenny Dalglish Stand so we want to use really all the power we can get and we can create in this wonderful stadium.
“I don’t think that it makes sense that we do it like it’s a completely normal game, it isn’t, it should never be.
“That does not mean you can get more than three points, but it means no excuses – you have to try everything.”
The Reds have been rocked by news that Sadio Mane will be sidelined for six weeks after picking up a hamstring injury, but there are no other outstanding fitness concerns for Jurgen Klopp.
The manager says the back problem which affected Dejan Lovren before the international break has now been resolved.
“We managed it [the injury] but he was always match-fit, otherwise he would not have played of course,” he explained.
“He played the second game [for Croatia during the international break], 90 minutes, he’s back, everything looks fine and that’s it.
“It was no problem yesterday, it was no problem the day before yesterday. I don’t know how it will be in a few days, but in the moment everything is good.”
