'Keep them quiet and we can progress'
Jose Enrique has outlined why a rock-solid defence – as well as a potent attack – will be key to determining whether Liverpool progress into the Europa League last 16 against Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday.
The Reds will welcome the Russian champions to Anfield aiming to overturn a two-goal deficit from last week's first leg and with the knowledge an away strike for the visitors would leave them needing to score at least four times.
Enrique, therefore, is well aware Liverpool can ill-afford anything other than a solid defensive display.
"Zenit is our most important game of the season and we have a good chance even though we lost the first game 2-0," the Spaniard told the Liverpool Echo.
"The atmosphere will be really good and if we score early then our confidence will grow.
"It will be the biggest European game I've ever played in. We know we have to score at least two but we can do it.
"We have really good players and I think we can score a lot of goals. The problem this season has been conceding goals.
"It's so important to keep a clean sheet against Zenit. They spent a lot of money so they have good players but we have to stop them scoring. We need to concentrate throughout.
"I think we are playing well. Even in the defeats to West Brom and Zenit, it was the same. We had many chances but we didn't take them and our mistakes cost us two goals.
"The manager's style of play is working and at home we've been doing well. We just have to try to make sure those errors don't happen again."
After defeats to West Brom and Zenit, Liverpool head into the return leg in the best possible fashion following Sunday's 5-0 drubbing of Swansea City.
The Reds will have to make do without the ineligible Daniel Sturridge, however, but Enrique - who netted his second goal of the season against the Swans - is confident they'll have sufficient firepower.
"Sturridge is a great player and it's a real miss he can't play in the Europa League because he already has a good understanding with Luis Suarez," he said.
"When they play together they score goals and we score goals as a team.
"This is the first season I have scored in the Premier League and now I have two so I hope to score a few more and help the team win games.
"It's important everyone is chipping in with goals and I hope against Zenit we can play like we did against Swansea. They had the cup final on their minds but they still had a good team.
"For 90 minutes we were pressing and it was a good reaction from the team. Now our confidence is there for the next game."
Meanwhile, Enrique issued a 'get well soon' message to Fabio Borini after the Italian dislocated his shoulder against Swansea.
The striker's maiden season on Merseyside has been decimated by injury and he's likely to miss the remainder of 2012-13.
Enrique added: "Fabio is a great lad and I really feel sorry for him.
"Injuries like hamstrings or calves you can do something about but this type of injury you cannot.
"He has already missed three months with a broken foot. We wish the best for him and hope he can return as soon as he can."