Emre: Still being top on Monday morning - that's extra motivation for us
Maintaining the position at the summit of the Premier League table can serve as added incentive for Liverpool as they approach each individual game – but no-one within the squad is getting comfortable, insists Emre Can.
The Reds resume action this afternoon with a clash against Southampton at St Mary’s, where they'll aim to pick up where they left off prior to the international break.
Victory over Watford last time out ensured Jürgen Klopp’s side topped the standings outright heading into the recess – and Can admits making sure they’re still there on Monday morning is motivation as they prepare to journey to the south coast.
He told Liverpoolfc.com: “It is good motivation. It’s nice to stay at the top, but we have to show ourselves from game to game and always concentrate. We have to give everything in every game.
“Of course, it’s nice to be on the top but it’s still early in the season. We have to keep going and the important thing would be to stay at the top until the end [of the season]. But there are a lot of matches [still to come], and we have to show ourselves from game to game.
“We have confidence, but it’s a long season and you can’t talk about winning the Premier League yet.
“I am very happy that we are back and we have the next important game. All of the team are looking forward to it. We were doing very well before the international break and we want to continue in the same way by winning our games.”
A sequence of just one defeat in 14 matches so far across all competitions in 2016-17 means confidence is understandably high at Melwood.
Nevertheless, Can is adamant no-one will allow that to lead to complacency, stressing: “We are not too comfortable. Every match in the Premier League is a very important and difficult game.
“We train very hard in our training sessions, the level is high in the sessions and everyone is working hard.
“Of course, it is very important to play our game in every game. In our training sessions, we work always towards the next team and that’s important for us to know if a side plays long balls, prefers to build-up or whatever. You have to know that always, but in the end you have to play your own game.
“Maybe sometimes [the talk of momentum] is too much, but the important thing is that we know as a team where we are and what we can do.
“Every player knows we have to give this in every game, we have to show ourselves in every game. It’s nice to know we have a strong team, but we have to show it every week. It’s important.”
Liverpool will embark on the long trip to St Mary’s knowing they’ll face a stern challenge of their credentials from Southampton.
Klopp used his pre-match press conference on Thursday to wax lyrical about Claude Puel’s side – and Can is in full agreement with his manager’s sentiments.
“They are very dangerous and it is never easy to play there,” said the 22-year-old. “I think they play better than the results they’ve had. I’ve watched a few of their matches this season, and particularly their last few matches, and they’re a good team.
“We have to show ourselves again and we have to play our game. Hopefully we can get the win.”