Brendan: It's an important day
Brendan Rodgers believes Sunday's meeting with Manchester United is both a chance for the club to pay respect to Hillsborough and turn encouraging performances into tangible points.
The match represents the first chance at Anfield since the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report for the Reds to offer tributes to the 96 fans who lost their lives in 1989 and the families who have fought for justice ever since.
A victory and three points are also in the manager's sights from a match which the Northern Irishman has followed since childhood and believes is the 'biggest game in British football'.
"There are obviously a number of things attributed to the game on Sunday," Rodgers told reporters at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
"First and foremost, it's our opportunity to commemorate the findings and pay respects for the families and the people who have worked tirelessly for 23 years.
"Football in general has played a great support in that - a lot of clubs have shown their support, which has been fantastic. This is our opportunity, first and foremost, to do that at Anfield.
"So obviously it's an important day because they deserve that respect from both teams and both supporters. Then we'll move onto the game, which will be equally important."
Rodgers expects both sets of supporters to respect the emotional element of the Barclays Premier League fixture and hopes his 'simmering' side can secure a vital victory.
The 39-year-old continued: "It's an emotionally-charged game. I wouldn't sit here and tell the Liverpool supporters how to behave.
"How they have behaved over many years has been fantastic. These are well-educated supporters who value humanity, so I've got no issues or problems there.
"The message has been clear from Sir Alex as well in relation to his supporters. So I'm sure that once we pay the tributes to the families, we can get on with the football.
"It's two teams packed with very, very gifted players, and for us we're really looking forward to the game, being at home.
"We've been simmering really, our performance levels have been excellent in parts of the games. But we want to get a win, move us on and keep us moving forward."
Reds fans would like nothing more than that first win of the league campaign to come against rivals United, and Rodgers revealed how he has been encouraged by the steel developing throughout his team.
"This is a game that I've grown up with as the biggest game in British football, Liverpool versus Manchester United," said the man born in Carnlough, County Antrim.
"In my time growing up as a child and through into my teenage years and right the way through, it's two massive clubs, iconic clubs worldwide and you fight for the right on the field.
"My players have been outstanding since I came here, absolutely first class. We haven't got the rub of the green sometimes in the games but every day our spirit is getting better and getting stronger the more we get to know each other and work with each other.
"You've seen that in the last two games. Sunderland away from home is a difficult place to go. We were 1-0 down having dominated the game but second half we really stepped it up and the point was the least that we deserved. Then last night [against Young Boys] takes character away from home.
"Everyone talks about the style that we're looking to introduce. What's equally or even more important for me is the steel in the team, and we're starting to see that. That will be important for us going forward."
That determination was in evidence as a youthful Reds side battled to a 5-3 victory over Young Boys in the Europa League on Thursday, a result which pleased the manager.
He said: "It was a fantastic result for us last night. The performance level was actually very good. We're disappointed with the goals that we conceded, of course. I think once we get the individual mistakes out of our game then we're going to be even stronger.
"But it was a really positive night, the majority of the senior players were fantastic and the support of the young players was terrific. To go away in a European competition and score five goals and win was very, very pleasing."
The win in Switzerland provided a timely boost ahead of United's visit, but the boss has never been concerned by a lack of confidence and is relishing Sunday's clash.
He concluded: "The confidence is fine. I see the players every day on the field, working with them as individuals and as a group. Their quality is undoubted, absolutely undoubted.
"There's no doubt since I've come into here, there have been a couple of adjustments that the players have had to make in terms of what I ask, in terms of looking to control and dominate games.
"In terms of their output and what they've given, it's been fantastic. As the season goes on, we will get better and better and better.
"I'm looking forward to the game because it's a real good test - Manchester United are a terrific side. My players will be really looking forward to it, as will I."