NewsIn full: Read Arne Slot's programme notes for Liverpool v Chelsea

The Reds' penultimate Anfield fixture of the campaign is a 12.30pm BST duel with the Blues, who are led by interim head coach Calum McFarlane.

Slot writes: "As things stand going into today's game, we have the opportunity to take another step towards our objective of achieving Champions League qualification for a second successive season.

"The best way for us to ensure that this happens, of course, is by taking the results of others out of the equation by taking care of our own business.

"Our fate is in our own hands, we have no need to rely on anyone else or to hope that fate might conspire in our favour. We just have to get the job done.

"This has to be our mindset and we should also be aiming to take as many points as we possibly can from our final three matches, particularly after the disappointment of losing at Old Trafford last weekend after three very good wins against Fulham, Everton and Crystal Palace.

"I would never look to take positives from a defeat against Manchester United because I know how important these kinds of fixtures are to everyone associated with Liverpool FC, including myself.

"But we can use our experiences in that game – both negative and positive – as fuel for this one against another opponent who will want to make things as difficult for us as possible.

"I would like to welcome Calum McFarlane, his players and staff and the directors and supporters of Chelsea to Anfield for today's game.

"Obviously, Calum has come in as interim manager once again in recent weeks and will want to continue making a good impression. I can only wish him well in this regard, although I am sure he will understand that this does not extend to today.

"As I said earlier, our focus can only be on ourselves and finishing as strongly as we possibly can.

"This is a time of change for us as a club and the best way of coming through it as strongly as we would want to is by sticking together and ensuring that the building blocks are in place not just for our remaining games of this season but also for the challenges that lie ahead.

"The reality is that any progress that we make now will stand us in good stead for next season and the possibility of Champions League qualification is clearly part of this picture.

"From a financial perspective for the club and from a sporting point of view for the team, we know the importance of finishing in the top five and that is why it is always a priority.

"At the time of writing these notes, I do not know which of our injured players, if any, will be available for this fixture. But what I do know is that the second half against United showed that we still have the quality to impose ourselves on games even if we do have players who are unavailable.

"Injuries have been too much of a factor in our season since it began and it has not been easy to deal with them, especially when they are serious and lead to players being out for a long time.

"We have not used them as an excuse but this does not mean they aren't a reality that we have had to deal with and we will carry on doing so.

"In recent weeks, we have been unable to call upon our first- and second-choice goalkeepers which has led to Freddie Woodman coming into the team.

"The way Freddie has dealt with this situation – particularly the attitude he has shown and the way he has quickly become part of the team – is exactly what we need in a situation like this.

"This is something that our supporters have clearly appreciated and you showed this in our last home game against Palace. This, to me, says so much about our support and we will need that kind of backing today.

"Hopefully on and off the pitch we can give one another exactly what is required."

• Pick up your copy of the programme at Anfield today or online here