News'We will need our supporters' - Arne Slot's programme notes for Southampton clash
Arne Slot hopes Anfield will be at its loudest and supportive best this afternoon when Liverpool take on Southampton.
The Reds turn their focus back to the pursuit of the Premier League title as Ivan Juric's side arrive in L4 for a 3pm GMT showdown.
It follows quickly on the heels of Wednesday night's backs-to-the-wall victory at Paris Saint-Germain, though the head coach believes those in the stands can help ensure there is no hangover.
Writing in the matchday programme, Slot states: "This is a game that comes on the back of a very testing Champions League match away in Paris and because of the quick turnaround it is clear that we will have to dig deep to go again. This is not a complaint, it is just our reality.
"We do not get to make excuses and nor do we want to. We just have to do whatever it takes to give ourselves the best possible chance of getting a positive result. Again, if you are a team that wants to go hard in the Premier League and the Champions League – which we are – this is an obligation.
"It is clear, though, that given the efforts that the players put in on Wednesday night, we will need our supporters today.
"In football, it is sometimes easy to look at the fixture list and predict when there will be a big atmosphere but sometimes it is as much about the need and the moment. This, I would say, is definitely one of those occasions.
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"Southampton are a team who have given us a big test already this season. Our fixture at St Mary's was very tight, as the result demonstrated, and it was yet another occasion when the strength of the Premier League was shown because we were pushed all the way, even if expectations outside of ourselves had been that it would be a much more straightforward game.
"That experience will help us today but only if we use the information in the right way. We should expect Southampton to fight every inch of the way once again.
"We should be prepared for them to look to take advantage of any weaknesses we might show. And we should know that they have the quality to cause problems for any opponent, as has been shown on many occasions this season regardless of what the league table might say.
"After today, we know that we will not play another Premier League game for a few weeks, so the aim will be to sign off in a good way before we look forward to the second leg against PSG, the Carabao Cup final and then the international break.
"This is an exciting period and it is also a testing one, so we have to meet each challenge as it comes before moving onto the next one.
"For this to happen, we need to have total focus. It is clear that others will start to focus on what could happen during the rest of the season but we cannot be part of this, other than knowing that if we stick to our approach our chances of being successful will not be harmed.
"After today, we will have nine league games remaining and although this might not seem like too many, it is just under one quarter of the season, which means there is a lot of football still to be played."