Programme notesJürgen Klopp on using confidence, Leeds warning and Rainbow Laces

The Reds return to top-flight duty on the back of a confidence-boosting Champions League display, with Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat of AFC Ajax securing their place in the last 16.

Klopp now wants his players to leverage the positivity generated in Amsterdam against a Leeds side seeking to arrest a run of four consecutive league losses.

“I have no doubt that Leeds will be coming to Anfield knowing the opportunity that a game like this presents for them,” the manager writes in his programme notes for the 7.45pm BST kick-off.

• Pick up the matchday programme at Anfield tonight or order online here

“So it makes sense that we view it the same way while recognising the hard work we must do if things are to go in our favour.

“We must also use the confidence that was earned in Amsterdam on Wednesday night. I know we went into that game with questions against us and we answered a lot of them in a really positive way.

“The only problem with a 3-0 victory is that it can give the impression that in some way it was easy, but this was a proper test and we came through it by finding our own solutions and coming through the parts of the game when things were as difficult as you should expect against a team with the quality of Ajax.

• Want to watch this video? Register for a FREE MyLFC account now – also includes more content, exclusive competitions, newsletters and much more

“I said afterwards that overcoming difficulties before becoming the best version of yourself is always very helpful and this is because it is an asset that you are likely to need a lot in football. Suffering is part of the game so you have to be able to deal with it.

“We did this against Ajax and I am expecting the challenge to be very similar against Leeds this evening.

“I would like to offer the warmest welcome to Jesse Marsch, his players, the Leeds staff and supporters. It has been clear for a few weeks that Leeds have not been getting the results that their football has deserved and they have had a number of games where the result has just gone against them, so it is pretty clear to me that their current position in the league table is not the fairest reflection you could ever see.

“This means we have to prepare to face a team which will fight for a better position with the quality to be higher up the table. We must be ready for this.”

This evening’s match is a dedicated Stonewall Rainbow Laces fixture as part of the club’s Red Together campaign and activities – a cause for which Klopp reiterates his strong and ongoing support.

“As a club, we want and we need to be as inclusive as we possibly can,” he says.

“This, to me, is what You’ll Never Walk Alone is all about. By standing together, by being together and by allowing no-one to be alone no matter what, we can send a message that this club is for everyone.

“This should apply no matter what, but it is also worth pointing out that if we do this it gives us the best possible chance of showing our best face in so many ways.

“Last year I sat down with LFC Women’s player Meikayla Moore to talk about the importance of allyship and these are the kind of conversations that we must continue every day if we are going to make football for everyone.

“This is one of the reasons why I now wear the rainbow laces in my shoes for most games and I would urge you to make sure that we continue to make Anfield and Liverpool Football Club welcome to all.”