Ruben reveals the most important detail at Anfield

The boss believes our team has improved since last season’s 2-2 draw on Merseyside and three points could be ours this time around, if the group shows the right mentality from the start. 

That was the overriding message during our interview at Carrington, where Ruben began by discussing the magnitude of the occasion and his approach.

“Firstly, I know what it means to everyone here,” Amorim told us.

“I try to make it the same thing because for me to win against a fourth division team is always the same responsibility.

“We need to address every game like it is Liverpool away so that is my focus. But, of course, I know that it is a different game. We have not won there for a while, so we want to change that.”

Asked if last season’s performance at Anfield could be a blueprint to follow, Ruben continued: “It's really important and I think we are a better team this year.

“The most important thing and I think I have said it one million times is the way we are going to play the game. Then the rest, we have talent to win games, but we need to be aggressive.

“We need to be different to what we showed against Manchester City, for example. So, if we are aggressive and focused on the task, we can win any game.”

Addressing Liverpool’s run of three defeats, the boss said: “I am just focused on my team. 

“Of course, we pay a lot of attention to the opponents and especially an opponent that won the league, and they are a really, really good team with a really, really good coach, but my focus is on my team. I just want to see my team playing the way we want to play.”

As confirmed in the pre-match press conference, it remains to be seen whether Noussair Mazraoui will be available and Lisandro Martinez is still working his way back to full fitness. 

Otherwise, the only task for Ruben and his staff is managing the impact of international travel. “The guys who went to the national teams, they are ready. 

“We have to balance the rest of some because some of them played in Japan, so we have to address the jetlag and all of these things. But they are ready and they are really confident, I am happy to have them, so we will be ready for the game.”