Agger: We can show that we're serious
Daniel Agger views Liverpool's journey to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as an opportunity for the players to prove to themselves how serious their challenge can be in the Barclays Premier League this season.
The Reds have established themselves in second place in the standings after 15 games of 2013-14, within touching distance of pace-setters Arsenal courtesy of nine victories so far in the campaign.
A busy Christmas schedule pits Brendan Rodgers' charges against sixth-placed Spurs this weekend, before equally important fixtures at Manchester City and Chelsea before the year ends.
Rather than a daunting prospect, however, Liverpool's vice-captain sees the clash at White Hart Lane as an encounter which his team should welcome in their ongoing battle at the division's summit.
Asked if the Reds can send a message to their Premier League rivals this weekend, Agger said: "I'm not sure we have to show anybody. We have to show ourselves that we are serious.
"We want to win this - we want to be at the top of the table. We definitely have to win a game like this if that's where we want to be.
"Tottenham are obviously a great team, they have signed some good players. It's going to be a tough game, but we believe in ourselves and we know we can score goals. Now we just need to keep a clean sheet.
"We are attacking a lot this season and that's also why we're scoring a lot of goals. But we have to be better, we have to defend better and keep clean sheets, because that's one of the most important things in football."
The Danish defender missed the 4-1 win over West Ham United last Saturday due to illness but, as the No.5 approaches his eight-year anniversary at Anfield, he reported positive news on his current condition.
"I'm feeling good, my body feels good - that's important for me. Now I just have to show that on the pitch," the centre-back continued.
"You change all the time, not only as a footballer but as a person as well. You have to learn by your mistakes and that's something I have definitely done.
"In the last eight years, we have had some great players and some really good squads. But this one is definitely up there."
In Agger's absence against the Hammers, teammates Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel were asked to deputise, with the former notching his first goal in Liverpool colours during the second half.
With Sebastian Coates, Tiago Ilori and Kolo Toure also in contention for a starting place at the centre of defence, competition is fierce - a situation the 29-year-old considers healthy.
He said: "They have obviously done well and competition is always good at a club like this. There has always been competition. For the targets we are set, it is important to have that competition."
The news that Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard will be out of action for four to six weeks with a hamstring issue means the vice-captain could take the armband in the near future.
Ever focused, though, the Denmark international is concentrating merely on reclaiming his place in Rodgers' starting XI rather than allowing his thoughts to drift to a landmark moment.
"I have to be picked first, so we have to wait and see," concluded Agger. "It's not really something I think of, because that's the future; I think about what is happening now.
"The most important thing for me is to be in the team - that's what I want. That [the captaincy] is not my first priority right now. I'm doing what I do best, playing my game and taking the responsibility I have to take. That's what I'm trying to do."