'How we'll get ready for United'

While many of the Reds' first-team stars are currently scattered across the globe on international duty for their countries, the Melwood coaching staff continue to work with those who have remained on Merseyside.

Clarke acknowledges it's not ideal to have an international recess before such a big game, but maintains no-one at Liverpool will be complaining and admits it's business as usual at the club's training complex.

The first-team coach told Liverpoolfc.tv: "The preparations will be exactly the same. We don't get the full group to work with until the day before the game, which is disappointing but you just have to deal with it.

"The boys that are left behind do their work as normal - we work them hard in training, give them pointers towards the game and if we can give them something that will make the game easier for them on Saturday then that's good."

He added: "It's not ideal because it (the game) comes on the back of an international break and we've only had five or six players left behind here at Melwood."

Click the image below to watch our chat with Clarke

Liverpool expect to have their full squad back at Melwood on Thursday, and Clarke provided an insight into the work they'll be doing in the hours leading up to the clash with United.

He explained: "We don't get the group back in it's entirety until Thursday afternoon when the boys come back from South America, so you don't get a lot of time to work with the team.

"The majority will be reporting in on Wednesday. We'll make sure they're okay after the internationals and do a light training session. It will be similar on Thursday.

"Hopefully we'll have time on Friday to do a bit of team play and get them ready for the game, but it's a difficult situation. You just hope you get players coming back fit and well and you work on them mentally to make sure they're ready for such a big game."