'There have been no negative effects'
Assistant manager Colin Pascoe insists Liverpool's recent run of results has not harmed morale within the camp – and backed the players to bounce back against Sunderland this afternoon.
Recent defeats to Manchester United and Southampton marred an unbeaten start to the 2013-14 campaign for the Reds.
However, Pascoe is confident that the players' professionalism will see them through when they head to the Stadium of Light today tasked with recapturing their winning form.
"It's always important to bounce back after a loss," he told Liverpoolfc.com. "But when you look at the table, we're only [a few] points off the top.
"I don't think recent results have affected the players. They're fantastic pros. You get your ups and downs in football. You just have to move on and we're looking forward to the game on Sunday.
"The next game rolls on. We were disappointed with the match against Manchester United, but it's a great game against Sunderland and the fans will be right behind us. I'm looking forward to us putting a good performance on."
The Reds will lock horns with a Black Cats side currently without a manager following Paolo Di Canio's departure - and also without a win in the Barclays Premier League this season.
Kevin Ball is caretaker boss for the visit of Liverpool, and Pascoe, who played alongside him at Sunderland, is expecting rejuvenated opposition.
"I was surprised [when Di Canio was sacked]," said Pascoe. "The manager had only had five games of this season in the Premier League and he was allowed to bring in a lot of players in the summer.
"You expect then that he would have had time to gel the team together. It's a shame that he's only had five games of this campaign.
"They'll be organised. I know Kevin very well - I played with him at Sunderland and he'll have them up for it. They'll want to put a good performance on for Kevin.
"But they're playing against Liverpool at the end of the day, so you expect them to raise their game."