'I'll take United challenge in my stride'
Andre Wisdom is keen to play his part in what would be the biggest game of his Liverpool career so far when the Reds face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
With Jose Enrique sidelined due to an injury sustained at the end of 2012, the 19-year-old could be in the running for a starting berth against the Barclays Premier League leaders.
Wisdom is ready to take the challenge in his stride and he insists confidence is high at Melwood ahead of an eagerly-anticipated trip down the M62 to face the Reds' fierce rivals.
"It would mean a lot if the manager puts me in the side," Wisdom told the Liverpool Echo. "This is a massive game but you have to prepare for every match the same.
"I'm not a nervous person. I just take things in my stride and try to keep my head down and get on with stuff. You can't allow the pressure to get to you.
"United have some great players but so do we and our form has been good. We'll go there with the right attitude and give it our all.
"We'll have a strong team out and confidence is high. We know how much this game means to the fans. The support they give us is unbelievable and hopefully we can reward them with a good result."
A week which could end in Wisdom stepping out into one of the most intense football rivalries in world football started in celebratory fashion for the youngster as he put pet to paper on a new long-term Liverpool contract.
The messages of congratulations poured in - and teammate Jamie Carragher took time out to pay tribute in his own unique way.
"Carra had a message for me," revealed Wisdom. "He said I'll be back at the Academy as soon as Martin Kelly is fit!
"It's just banter and it's all good. Carra has been a massive help to me and is a great mentor for all the young lads.
"What he has accomplished here is amazing. He's got a cabinet full of medals at home and to have him as a teammate is an honour.
"That was his way of keeping me on my toes. Signing the new contract is great but I know I need to kick on. This is just the start of what will hopefully be a good career for me at this club.
"When I signed the contract I had more to say to Brendan than the other way around.
"I thanked him for everything he has done for me. He's a great manager and a good person.
"He gave me my debut and I fully appreciate the opportunities he has put in front of me. It's hard for managers to put youngsters in, but he has given Raheem, Suso and myself a lot of games.
"They have been proud moments for all of us and our families. We're a close unit and we get on well on and off the pitch."
Wisdom has already tasted the intensity of a clash against one of Liverpool's fiercest rivals when he started at Goodison Park in October last year as the Reds drew 2-2 with Everton.
He was withdrawn after 70 minutes of play and the lad from Leeds insists the day's events taught him some valuable lessons about competing at football's highest level.
"The derby was a big learning curve for me," said Wisdom. "I didn't have my best of games but I came off the pitch with a better understanding of the game.
"Making that step up, first-team games are a lot more physical with a higher tempo and everyone is more clinical so you have to be switched on for the full 90 minutes.
"You have to be able to handle certain situations differently when you are away from home in hostile grounds. That's one of the toughest games I've had but it was a great experience for me.
"I'm always honest with myself. You need to be able to take criticism as well as praise. I knew I needed to improve. It's not all going to be sunshine and rainbows, there are going to be rainy and cloudy days.
"How you respond to those tough days determines whether you are going to succeed or fail."
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