'It doesn't matter who's in the dug-out'
Steven Gerrard knows it will be a strange feeling facing Manchester United without Alex Ferguson at the helm – but the skipper is not paying too much attention to who's occupying the opposition dug-out.
Instead, the midfielder - who has locked horns with the Red Devils on 30 occasions during his career - is more concerned with focusing on Liverpool's game when the action gets underway at Anfield today.
Gerrard is determined to make it three wins out of three for the Reds in the Barclays Premier League this season - and he's as eager as ever to send United home empty-handed.
"It will be strange looking over and [Ferguson] not being in the dug-out," the skipper told Liverpoolfc.com. "He's been a fantastic servant for them, but I'm sure David Moyes will do a good job.
"He did a terrific job at Everton, he's got a lot of experience and I'm sure he'll continue to do well for them, but for me my focus is on Liverpool and continuing to improve this team and moving the team forward.
"I think Brendan Rodgers is doing a fantastic job. We're making huge strides, we are improving all of the time and I think that's the reason why we've started so well.
"We've got two wins and we're in the next round of the cup. It's important we don't get carried away and we keep on working hard and trying to improve, and there would be nothing better than to try and get a good positive result on Sunday.
"That way we've got a little bit of a break with the internationals."
Gerrard feels Liverpool's pre-season tour of Indonesia, Australia and Thailand was one of the most successful in recent times, in terms of helping the players to integrate and bond.
On the back of the trip, Rodgers' side have picked up consecutive 1-0 wins in the Premier League - and Gerrard wants the team to maintain their strong start.
He explained: "Team spirit and camaraderie takes time to build, players need to get comfortable in the surroundings, players need to settle, but the first five to six weeks of the pre-season tour was fantastic for us to mix.
"The friendlies were good and we came back off the tour in great spirits and playing some good stuff, and we've took that into the season and maintained it, but it's early days."
"I'm as hungry and excited as I always am coming back from a pre-season. The people that talk about my age and how long I have been around - that's not in my control - and I just look forward to each game. I'm really looking forward to this challenge on Sunday against Manchester United."
Prior to today's game, the players will join supporters in showing their appreciation for Bill Shankly on what would have been his 100th birthday.
And for Gerrard, the gesture will be a poignant and fitting way of remembering one of the club's greatest icons.
"I think it's a tribute well deserved," he said. "Everyone knows all about Bill Shankly, whether you played with him, played for him, were managed or you've seen tapes of the man, you've heard his quotes and everyone has their own memories.
"You only have to walk through Melwood and it's the first person you see really with the sculpture made of him with his quotes on the wall.
"Certainly it's a tribute well deserved and I'm looking forward to playing my part in it as well."
Gerrard was speaking at a promotion for the Hugh McAuley Soccer School which is funded once a year by the Steven Gerrard Foundation and Knowsley council .
The participating children are chosen based on good behaviour in their school. Keep your eyes peeled to the website for a full length feature coming soon.