Programme notesArne Slot: Our obligation is to never believe we are doing enough

The Reds were buoyed by back-to-back home wins over Qarabag and Newcastle United last week in which they racked up 10 goals.

Next at Anfield, Slot's side will aim to follow up those positive performances by coming out on top in a fixture the boss admired even before being a part of.

"Speaking from experience, I can safely say that this is a game that has attracted the attention of football fans all over the world for many years," Slot writes in the matchday programme.

"When I was in Holland it was always a fixture that people would look out for due to the quality of football and the rivalry that existed between the two teams as they fought it out at the top of the Premier League.

"This makes it a privilege to be involved and having come up against City three times since moving to Liverpool I am even better placed to appreciate the standard and also the demands. Put simply, no-one should be in any doubt about the levels you have to reach to win a game like this, especially when Pep Guardiola is in charge of the opposition.

"There are no shortcuts and no half measures at this level. You have to be all in from first minute to last and you also have to be prepared to suffer because under Pep, City have only ever been a team which will test you to the full. On and off the pitch we have to be ready for this.

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"At the same time, we have to be aware of – and, more importantly, ready to show – our own qualities in the same way that we have in our two most recent home games, against Qarabag and Newcastle United.

"Our performances in those fixtures were a necessary step in the right direction, mainly because we were much improved in both boxes. We are in an industry that is always about results and after we lost at Bournemouth I told the players that this was an area that we had to be better in because in between we do so many things at a high level, so it was pleasing to see them do this.

"Scoring 10 goals and only conceding one was a big improvement and the key now is to maintain this progress because we are in a situation in which we have no option but to keep pushing ourselves, especially if we want to finish in as high a position as we can and make the most of the remainder of this season.

"This is an obligation if you are part of a club like Liverpool where standards and expectations have always been high. There is never a moment when you can start to believe that you are doing enough, particularly when results previously have not been of the level that you are looking for.

"We know also that we have a responsibility to our supporters to do everything that we possibly can to deliver for them. This is one of the reasons why I was much happier after our last two home matches, as it was clear that not only were our results better, so were our performances.

"This is what we are striving for. It is not easy in a league as competitive and as intense as this one but it is our objective and one that we work towards on a daily basis. This is where I have to give the players so much credit because they bring this attitude into every training session and every game."