Jürgen Klopp puts his unbeaten record in Merseyside derbies down to the importance with which Liverpool approach every game against Everton.

Since taking charge of the Reds in October 2015, the German has overseen four victories and one draw in meetings with the Blues in all competitions.

The 231st clash between the clubs is set for Saturday lunchtime at Goodison Park, sandwiched between the Champions League quarter-final tie with Manchester City.

But while Klopp would have preferred more time to prepare for the derby, its meaning to supporters guarantees Liverpool will be giving nothing less than everything for the three points.

Asked about his run in this fixture at his pre-match press conference, the manager said: “It’s a sign of the quality of my team and the character of the boys, and that in these games we were always spot-on.

“None of them were easy, especially in the preparation – it’s always difficult. You wish you could prepare for a game like this with one week of training.

“The importance of football is always in people’s mind. It’s not that there is something really important in football – it’s only what we make of it.

“[But] the derby is the most important game for all the people, so that’s how we have to take it. We do the job and people have the dreams, expectations and ambitions. We have them as well in the league with all the games.

“But in this very special game we have to show up and nobody cares how difficult it is for one or the other side. We have to deliver, we know that, and that’s what we want to try.”

Everton had claimed back-to-back wins before suffering a 3-1 defeat against Premier League leaders City last time out and are ninth in the table.

Klopp is conscious of the need for Liverpool to combat the combination of the Blues’ encouraging recent results, the availability of players to Sam Allardyce and the atmosphere at Goodison Park.

“I know they will be motivated on the highest level this weekend,” he said.

“They have a very good home record. They are a really good team – a really good team. Now [Yannick] Bolasie is back, [Theo] Walcott is a new signing, and [Cenk] Tosun is in a good moment. They have pretty much all [players] together apart from [Gylfi] Sigurdsson is still injured. It’s a good football team, very experienced in defence.

“Each Evertonian thinks at Goodison there must be a few extra per cent of desire, so we need to be ready for that 100 per cent. We need to be on fire again and then we have a good chance.”

Liverpool’s depleted defensive resources saw U23s centre-back Conor Masterson take a place on the substitutes’ bench for Wednesday’s Champions League match at Anfield.

So Klopp was quizzed on whether it is likely more Academy players will be used this weekend.

“For young players it’s not about getting the opportunity, it’s about being ready for the opportunity,” the boss replied.

“Conor Masterson was [with the] U18s last year and now in his first year with the U23s. He is still a very young lad so it’s a completely different experience.

“They are around because we gave the next generation on loan to different clubs; like Ryan Kent, Harry Wilson, Ovie [Ejaria], [Sheyi] Ojo, Marko [Grujic]. All these boys are at different clubs now.

“Then you use the next generation and they are there. They are really talented boys. I am always ready for using them, but in the right games in the right moment. We will see when that will happen.”