Anfield left quite an impression on Joel Matip upon his first home appearance in September.

“The Kop was singing and I was like ‘woah’!” he told the Liverpool Echo. “It was an amazing feeling to be out there in the middle.”

The centre-back had been made to wait for that experience, with the redevelopment of the Main Stand delaying his Anfield debut following a summer switch from Bundesliga side FC Schalke.

The Reds marked the occasion with a resounding 4-1 victory over reigning champions Leicester City and have won four of their five home games since in all competitions.

And though Matip is relatively new to the force of the stadium, he already believes it makes a difference.

“Every home game is so special and enjoyable,” continued the No.32. “The atmosphere the fans generate really encourages us as players. It drives us on, knowing the fans are right behind us.”

Sunderland are next to visit Anfield, this Saturday afternoon, and will face a Liverpool side hungry for goals after being shut out by Southampton last weekend.

The Black Cats are currently stuck in the Premier League relegation zone but Matip sounded a warning against underestimating the north east outfit.

He said: “There are no small clubs in the Premier League. Every team has a lot of quality.

“You can’t just go out, take it easy, collect the points and go home. You have to work hard every game and do your job. You have to earn it.”