'Keeping cool key to three points'

The Reds head into the showdown aiming to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season and open up a five-point lead over their rivals.

In last season's corresponding fixture, Liverpool had Jonjo Shelvey sent off during the first half and though they later took the lead through Steven Gerrard, they ultimately went down 2-1.

"We've got to show some composure," Marsh told Liverpoolfc.com. "Unfortunately we had Jonjo [Shelvey] sent off last year in a game in which I think we played very well in with 10 men.

"If we'd kept 11 men on the pitch, we'd have probably gone on and seen out the game, so it's important we keep our composure on the pitch.

"We set ourselves up the same for every game - but it's there, you know it's coming and the people in the street are talking about it a lot earlier than other games.

"We'll be trying to keep level heads, but we know the game has got a level of importance to people in the city."

Last season, Liverpool had to wait until late September to record their first league win of the season - a 5-2 victory away to Norwich City.

This time around, the Reds have already prevailed home and away in their opening two matches and Marsh is keen to emphasise the importance of a good start to the season.

"We saw last season, West Brom had a good start and were up near the top of the table for a long time before they tailed off at the end," he said.

"We know the importance of a good start - if you do get off to a bad start, it's hard to get back up there as you're always fighting against it, battling and looking at other people's results.

"It's only the early stages of the season, but it's nice to look at the table and see yourself nearer the top rather than the bottom."

In recent days, both Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard have spoken of a 'different feeling' in the Liverpool dressing room.

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Is this a sense shared by Marsh?

He said: "I would say so, yes. I think a lot of it is down to the work that was put in last year and also when we went away in pre-season, it wasn't as disjointed as last year with the players coming back from competitions.

"We've all been together from July 1, we've all worked hard and it's given us all a chance to bed in together."

Liverpool's opening two wins of the season were followed up by a Capital One Cup success against Notts County in midweek.

A lot is made of 'winning mentalities' and 'momentum' in football - but do they exist in Marsh's opinion?

"They certainly do," he stated. "You've only got to look at the successful teams over the years. Liverpool were successful in the 1980s, scoring goals late into games.

"You look at Celtic in their Champions League game - they're used to winning and scored in the 90^th minute. It's just the mindset you have, a winning mentality and one you take into games."

Meanwhile, Marsh is confident Liverpool's 120-minute run out against Notts County will have no effect on the players' fitness ahead of United's visit.

"I wouldn't think it'd be a big deal," he said. "Obviously we've lost one or two players due to injury, which is unfortunate, but the players have recovered well and we look ready to go for Sunday.

"We made hard work of it. We got off to a good start and went 2-0 ahead. Credit to Notts County they came back into the game, get back to 2-2 and take it to extra time. But ultimately we got through - and that's all that counts."

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