Christmas could be a deciding period throughout the Barclays Premier League, according to Colin Pascoe – who feels the Reds are finding form at exactly the right time.

With teams tightly bunched in the division at this stage, Liverpool's assistant manager believes a run of positive festive results can continue the recent progress enjoyed at Anfield.

Quizzed about why the standings are so compact with more than a third of the campaign completed, Pascoe told Liverpoolfc.com: "A lot of people have asked the question.

"Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea - they have always been the favourites so they are there to be knocked down. Other teams go there and enjoy themselves, express themselves.

"It's who is the one that comes out stronger, especially around Christmas time - it's a big three or four games around that period."

Liverpool face West Ham, Aston Villa, Fulham, Stoke, QPR and Sunderland in the coming month, and Pascoe claims last weekend's 1-0 win over Southampton was an ideal springboard for those encounters.

He continued: "We watched on Saturday the way the lads passed the ball, creating chances.

"It's just that step nearer, going forward all the time. It was a great step on Saturday with the style that we want to play at Anfield.

"It's always a step forward. The way we played on Saturday, the way we have been playing recently - there's always progression. That's the way we look at it.

"We're looking forward to West Ham, Aston Villa - all of these games are coming thick and fast. The way we're playing holds us in good stead."

The Reds will be without top scorer Luis Suarez for the trip to Upton Park, but Pascoe revealed the coaching staff are working on different systems to cope with both that loss and the problems the Hammers can cause.

"He's been fantastic this season - of course he's going to be a massive loss for us against West Ham," the Welshman said of the Uruguayan.

"But we've known for a while that he was on four yellows and it could have happened anytime.

"It's happened so we just have to get on with it. We've talked about different players playing up front or behind, different systems. We'll sit down and discuss it.

"It gives someone an opportunity to play up front. With the way we are and the players that we've got, we can adapt to that.

"We know that they will be physical, a team that will put us under pressure. They'll put plenty of balls into the box so we need to be strong mentally and physically. If we match that with our passing, we'll come through that."