It's game day and I've woken up all nervous & pessimistic!
Brendan Rodgers expects Liverpool to benefit from the midweek rest several senior stars were afforded when they go head-to-head with Manchester United on Sunday.
The likes of Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Joe Allen remained at Melwood as a youthful Reds squad took on Young Boys in Switzerland on Thursday night in the Europa League opener.
Those players will be restored to the squad for the visit of United - and Rodgers believes they'll have benefitted from not having travelled to Switzerland.
The manager told Liverpoolfc.com: "I think they will hopefully benefit a lot from not having to travel.
"Obviously they continued to work, but as we saw against Manchester City, we'd rested a number of players for the trip to Hearts, and in that game the players were fresh and put in a very, very good performance.
"We left a number of players behind and a lot of them will be involved in Sunday's game from the start, and we're really looking forward to seeing them put in a fresh, energetic performance."
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Sunday's clash represents Rodgers' first involvement in a Liverpool versus Manchester United fixture since he was installed to the Anfield helm in June.
The Northern Irishman will relish the occasion, though he acknowledges it will be an afternoon of high emotion as the Reds pay their respects to the 96 in the first home game since the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report was released.
"I'm very much looking forward to it - it's a game I've grown up watching all of my life," he said. "Two massive clubs and it's a great opportunity [for me] to be involved in such a game.
"But, first and foremost, it's a great opportunity for us as a club to commemorate and to pay tribute to the families and the people involved with Hillsborough, and show and pay our respects to the families at the game.
"Hopefully we can then go on and get three points, which would set off what would hopefully be a great day for us."
Given the circumstances surrounding the game, Rodgers is keen to stress the importance of keeping a cool head when the match gets underway.
He added: "It's important to play with your brain. There is going to be a lot of emotion around the game, which there normally is in relation to Liverpool against Manchester United.
"We play to our strengths. We always pay respect and look to analyse the opponent's strengths and weaknesses, but the key will be for us to perform how we can and look to play our game. If we can do that - control and dominate as well as press the ball well - then we'll have every chance of winning."
Liverpool go into the game looking for their first Barclays Premier League victory of the season.
The Reds have picked up two draws and two defeats from their four matches so far, but Rodgers remains confident his players will find consistency sooner rather than later.
"The spirit in the group is very strong and the confidence is very, very high," he said. "We've had a couple of games we should have won.
"One or two of the games maybe haven't gone to plan, but that's all part of the growth. It's still very early, we're only four games in of a 38-game season. I know the players and the group will get stronger and better as the weeks go by.
"The most important game is the next game. Now that the Young Boys game is out of the way, hopefully we can now take that momentum in Sunday's game and look to get a result."
As well as the freshness of his rested stars, Rodgers believes Liverpool could hold another key factor in deciding the outcome of Sunday's game.
"The fans really are our extra man - there is no question about that," said the manager. "Anfield is a really exciting place to play football, especially in the big games.
"The supporters are unheralded and it's absolutely fantastic. I've only experienced a few games at home, but the passion of the supporters really rolls down out of the stands onto the field.
"If they give us that backing and support they have since the very first day I walked in here, then it can be a really exciting game for us. The home form is going to be important. This is a big game and if they can really get behind the team as they have done, then that will give us a great chance of getting a result."
Brendan Rodgers expects Liverpool to benefit from the midweek rest several senior stars were afforded when they go head-to-head with Manchester United on Sunday.
The likes of Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Joe Allen remained at Melwood as a youthful Reds squad took on Young Boys in Switzerland on Thursday night in the Europa League opener.
Those players will be restored to the squad for the visit of United - and Rodgers believes they'll have benefitted from not having travelled to Switzerland.
The manager told Liverpoolfc.com: "I think they will hopefully benefit a lot from not having to travel.
"Obviously they continued to work, but as we saw against Manchester City, we'd rested a number of players for the trip to Hearts, and in that game the players were fresh and put in a very, very good performance.
"We left a number of players behind and a lot of them will be involved in Sunday's game from the start, and we're really looking forward to seeing them put in a fresh, energetic performance."
The video you selected is only available to LFCTV Online members. You are now watching our Preview video, login or click here to sign up.
Sunday's clash represents Rodgers' first involvement in a Liverpool versus Manchester United fixture since he was installed to the Anfield helm in June.
The Northern Irishman will relish the occasion, though he acknowledges it will be an afternoon of high emotion as the Reds pay their respects to the 96 in the first home game since the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report was released.
"I'm very much looking forward to it - it's a game I've grown up watching all of my life," he said. "Two massive clubs and it's a great opportunity [for me] to be involved in such a game.
"But, first and foremost, it's a great opportunity for us as a club to commemorate and to pay tribute to the families and the people involved with Hillsborough, and show and pay our respects to the families at the game.
"Hopefully we can then go on and get three points, which would set off what would hopefully be a great day for us."
Given the circumstances surrounding the game, Rodgers is keen to stress the importance of keeping a cool head when the match gets underway.
He added: "It's important to play with your brain. There is going to be a lot of emotion around the game, which there normally is in relation to Liverpool against Manchester United.
"We play to our strengths. We always pay respect and look to analyse the opponent's strengths and weaknesses, but the key will be for us to perform how we can and look to play our game. If we can do that - control and dominate as well as press the ball well - then we'll have every chance of winning."
Liverpool go into the game looking for their first Barclays Premier League victory of the season.
The Reds have picked up two draws and two defeats from their four matches so far, but Rodgers remains confident his players will find consistency sooner rather than later.
"The spirit in the group is very strong and the confidence is very, very high," he said. "We've had a couple of games we should have won.
"One or two of the games maybe haven't gone to plan, but that's all part of the growth. It's still very early, we're only four games in of a 38-game season. I know the players and the group will get stronger and better as the weeks go by.
"The most important game is the next game. Now that the Young Boys game is out of the way, hopefully we can now take that momentum in Sunday's game and look to get a result."
As well as the freshness of his rested stars, Rodgers believes Liverpool could hold another key factor in deciding the outcome of Sunday's game.
"The fans really are our extra man - there is no question about that," said the manager. "Anfield is a really exciting place to play football, especially in the big games.
"The supporters are unheralded and it's absolutely fantastic. I've only experienced a few games at home, but the passion of the supporters really rolls down out of the stands onto the field.
"If they give us that backing and support they have since the very first day I walked in here, then it can be a really exciting game for us. The home form is going to be important. This is a big game and if they can really get behind the team as they have done, then that will give us a great chance of getting a result."
