'Anfield is a nice place to be at the moment'
Liverpool return to Anfield on Sunday for a Premier League meeting with Watford, and Gary McAllister expects the players to be relishing the opportunity to run out in front of their own fans once more.
Just five of the Reds' first 13 fixtures of the season have been hosted in L4, with work on the Main Stand expansion delaying their maiden appearance of the campaign on home turf.
But they have yet to taste defeat in front of the Kop, having claimed four wins and a draw since the famous stadium reopened in early September.
McAllister believes the extra 8,500 fans who are now able to attend Anfield fixtures are making all the difference, helping Jürgen Klopp's team to find their highest intensity from the first whistle.
"I think the new stand is definitely helping, the extra bodies in there," he told Liverpoolfc.com.
"There’s an air of confidence in the team, they’re starting games very fast and it’s very much like the Liverpool of old.
"Teams are coming there and they’re getting a bit rattled early in the game. They’re turning Anfield into a bit of a fortress.
"Anfield is pretty unique, it’s different to most grounds and you get a different atmosphere in there.
"We’re at 54,000 now so the noise is pretty special and the way the players are playing at the moment, the fans are joining in. It’s just a nice place to be."
Of course Liverpool's success so far this term has not just been confined to Anfield.
The Reds sit joint-top of the Premier League going into the weekend clash with Walter Mazzarri's men, and have won all three of their cup outings.
And McAllister has been impressed by the style of play just as much as the results across a strong opening to the campaign.
"It’s been really refreshing," he commented.
"I think anybody, even neutrals who have no affiliation to Liverpool, have watched them and been impressed by not only the intensity and the pace that they’re playing at but also the skill.
"It’s been a great start and I think you can see there’s loads of confidence right throughout the whole team."
The former Scotland international is also pleased to see the tactical work he witnessed up close during pre-season being put into practice to great effect.
"I was fortunate enough to spend the whole pre-season with the guys, seeing quite a lot of the training, and as someone who’s managed and coached I can see the things they’ve been working on in the summer," he added.
"They’re really coming to the fore during matches and that’s what all managers want to see."