Boss: Anfield record is good but there's more to come
Jürgen Klopp has expressed satisfaction with Liverpool's strong home record in 2016, but insists there is still 'a long way to go' for his side to truly make Anfield a fortress.
The Reds have suffered just two defeats in front of the Kop this year, both of which came in January.
The last visiting team to claim victory at the famous old stadium was Stoke City, who return on December 27 looking for a repeat of last season's 1-0 League Cup semi-final success.
When asked how his side have maintained such an impressive run since that loss, Klopp said: "The quality of the players and the atmosphere in the stadium, I would say.
"I think that was a clear plan from the beginning, that we tried to create a real strength at home. That should be the first thing you think about.
"It needs to be really difficult to play LFC at Anfield and I think that's the job we did until now.
"But not all of these games were close to perfect or something, there's a lot to do."
LFCTV GO: Klopp's pre-Stoke press conference
The meeting with the Potters comes hot on the heels of the last-gasp Merseyside derby win over Everton and just four days prior to a keenly-anticipated meeting with Manchester City.
As such, Klopp has warned both players and fans that they cannot afford to be at anything but their best when Mark Hughes' team arrive if they are to claim three points.
"I spoke already to the players about it but it has exactly the same importance for the crowd," he added.
"It's like if your parents have three kids and you are the middle one. Stoke is a little bit between Everton and Manchester City - the second child if you want.
"Probably a lot of people think we already have the points and we have to do it differently, but it’s the most important game of the whole season and that's because we have no other game to play.
"It's not important when they beat us last time, it's not important which kind of history is around this game or not. I don't care.
"This is the only thing we have to do on December 27. That's what we really want to have."
Klopp is in the midst of his second season without the winter break observed in the Bundesliga and other European competitions.
But he is fully prepared for the festive fixture list and says he and his players are 'on fire' in anticipation of their next outing.
"I spoke a little bit about fixtures and all this stuff but the good thing with having no break is you don't feel like you need a break," he explained.
"So in Germany it was always like, 'Two weeks to go and then we have a break!' But here, nobody is in this mood. Everybody's on fire, we are all on the track, and that's a really good thing.
"Stoke have the same idea, so it's a very, very important game and we're really looking forward to it.
"Atmosphere changes everything, so hopefully all of our supporters are recharged, full of good food, and in the best mood for this game. Give everything you can."