BR: Prove you can step in for Steven
Show you can fill the void left by Steven Gerrard - that's the message from Brendan Rodgers to his midfield players ahead of Liverpool's hectic Christmas schedule.
Rodgers confirmed on Thursday that his captain would face at least four weeks on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury against West Ham United last weekend.
It means Gerrard will play no part as the Reds travel to Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester City - all in the space of a fortnight.
Rodgers insists there is no like-for-like replacement for the man who, at 33 years of age, has played every minute in all but three of his side's games this season.
However, he believes the England skipper's absence could hand one of his teammates a golden opportunity to stake a claim for a starting place.
"Steven is a unique player and the captain here at the football club," the manager told Liverpoolfc.com. "There's no direct replacement for him.
"His stature in the game and his quality in the game is hard to replace. But we've got players who have been waiting on the side for a long time.
"And they may well get the opportunity in these coming weeks to go in and show that they can play. With only having one game a week, it's been difficult for some of the players. So every player on the sidelines, when they get that opportunity, they will look to take it.
"It's a test of our squad, but it provides an opportunity for other players and hopefully they will take that chance. This is where we'll find out.
"This is where players in those offensive positions will have the license to be inventive around the box and have no fear."
Rodgers' confidence that the Reds will be able to cope in Gerrard's absence, and without the prolific influence of Daniel Sturridge, has been bolstered by the character displayed already by his squad this season.
Liverpool began their campaign without Luis Suarez and have since had to legislate for injuries to Jose Enrique, Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Sturridge and now Gerrard.
"I think it's a great respect to the players and how we've tried to narrow our focus into the team," said Rodgers. "We've missed some players, the likes of Daniel, and Luis at the beginning of the season, so it's been difficult in terms of their partnership.
"Then at the back, Agger was sick last weekend and so he couldn't play. So the team has changed around a little bit. But it's a credit to the players that they've retained their concentration and every player that has been asked to come in and perform has done that.
"At this moment in time, we sit second and we're looking to fight over this block of five games over the Christmas period and we know it will be tough. But we're ready for them and we're looking forward to them."
One man who will be keen to retain his place in the starting XI is Wales international Joe Allen, who turned in solid displays during the wins over Norwich City and West Ham.
Prior to last week's games, the 23-year-old endured a difficult afternoon at Goodison Park against Everton; however, Rodgers always had faith that the midfielder would recover.
"I think Joe's been excellent," said the Northern Irishman. "He's just been unfortunate with injuries that he's picked up.
"He had a really good pre-season, but he got injured at the end of that. So it's taken him that bit of time to come back into the team.
"But I think in his last two performances, you've seen confidence and aggression in his game. You don't lose talent and he's a multi-talented player.
"It's obviously about his confidence and getting the game time, and I think you'll see, with him getting game time, that he can prove to be the real talent that he is."