Kenny Dalglish is targeting an improved performance from his players when they go head-to-head with Galatasaray tonight as Liverpool get ready to step up their preparations for 2011-12.

Click here to watch the latest from Istanbul>>

The boss admits he was disappointed with Saturday's 3-0 friendly defeat at Hull City and is calling for a better showing from his charges when they take to the field at the Turk Telekom Arena.

Dalglish told Liverpoolfc.tv: "It's an important game for everyone. It's important for the players to continue the work they've done in training.

"We've got to increase the number of minutes for as many of the players as we possibly can to get them closer to being match fit for August 13.

"It's going to be a bit warm for them as it's very hot, but it's about us getting fit - and we've also got to give a better performance than we did at the weekend."

While acknowledging his dissatisfaction at the Hull defeat, Dalglish is keen to underline the importance of ensuring his squad are in peak condition when the Barclays Premier League gets underway next month against Sunderland at Anfield.

"We're happy with the fitness levels, the efforts the players have put in into training and the way they've applied themselves," said the Scot.

"We weren't happy with what happened on Saturday, but pre-season is there to get the players fit and to take away the mistakes that obviously you don't want to take into the season. If we've got rid of that in a couple of games then fine, we can go along with that.

"It's just a build up to the start of the season. It's about fitness, it's about progression and about being given a fair opportunity - and I think all the players have been given a fair opportunity."

Click on the play button below to watch our exclusive chat with Kenny

It was a youthful-looking Liverpool squad that touched down in Turkey on Wednesday evening, and with a game against Valerenga in Norway to come on Monday, Dalglish is planning to utilise the size of his squad by giving as many players as possible the chance to tally up the minutes in order to build match fitness.

However, he insists the younger members of the travelling squad will have nothing to prove to anyone in Istanbul.

"The youngsters that we've got here don't need to stake anything to us," stated Dalglish. "We know what they've got and what they're capable of doing.

"It's about getting themselves fit and ready for the start of the season. There's nothing for them to prove to us."

He added: "I don't think there is anyone who has come into the squad from the players who played in Asia or were involved at Hull, and we won't be making as many changes as we made in those three games. There won't be any surprises, it will just be some good players out there who need to get minutes.

"We've another game in Norway on Monday, so most of the lads who don't play here will play then."

Dalglish expects Galatasaray to provide stern opposition for his troops and believes they'll be aiming to impress in front of their own fans.

"They've signed a few new players," he said. "The coach who came in (Fatih Terim) was their third of last season, so he'll have gone out and stamped his own authority on the squad of players.

"They'll have one or two new signings looking to impress, especially as they're playing at home."

The futuristic Turk Telekom Arena may have only opened in January, but it already has its own place in the Guinness Book of World Records for creating the loudest roar at a sports stadium.

Liverpool are unlikely to encounter similar decibel levels tonight, but nonetheless Dalglish believe his players are able to deal with any atmosphere they may encounter.

He said: "They (the fans) are known to be a wee bit vociferous, but it's not a problem - they're not going to affect what happens on the pitch tonight, for us anyway."

Watch tonight's game live on LFC TV Online>>