'We've kept close tabs on Baggies'
Liverpool fans were basking in the glory of an historic 4-0 thrashing of their bitter rivals Everton – but Brendan Rodgers' staff were busy laying the groundwork for the Reds' next Barclays Premier League challenge.
Assistant manager Colin Pascoe was dispatched to Villa Park the following evening to take in a whirlwind West Midlands derby, which was narrowly won 4-3 by the home side.
He watched from the stands as West Brom, Liverpool's opponents this afternoon, rocked the home crowd with two goals in the first nine minutes.
Villa, undeterred, turned the tie on its head, battling back from behind to edge ahead in the 37th minute as Fabian Delph atoned for his early own-goal to hand Paul Lambert's side the lead.
Youssouf Mulumbu levelled things up for the Baggies shortly after; however, Christian Benteke secured a home victory from the penalty spot.
Back at Melwood, coaches and analysts have been pouring over the highlights with the same intensity Kopites have been reliving the Reds' four-goal derby demolition in recent days.
And Mike Marsh, Liverpool's first-team coach, insists nothing will be taken for granted ahead of a tough trip to the Hawthorns.
"As good a result as the Everton game was, that game has gone and the next one is the most important," he told Liverpoolfc.com. "You get straight back into it.
"Colin Pascoe went to watch West Brom's match against Aston Villa on Wednesday night and we had other people there watching. We've spoken about how they played and we'll get straight back into it.
"Psychologically, the 4-3 defeat could affect them, as it's difficult when you come back after losing to your nearest rivals, so with a little bit of luck, they will be on a downer and that will be a bonus for us."
The derby defeat was manager Pepe Mel's second game in charge of the Baggies since he assumed the post previously occupied by former Liverpool coach, Steve Clarke.
Mel's short tenure has yet to yield three points; the Spaniard's side held Everton to a draw at the Hawthorns in his first game before falling against Villa in the more recent derby thriller.
With the new manager desperate to chalk up a first win, we put it to Marsh that there could be an added incentive around the Hawthorns for West Brom to emulate last year's 3-0 home victory over Liverpool, in what was Rodgers' first game in charge.
"There are plusses and minuses," he responded. "All their players are trying to impress the new manager and he is trying to implement a new training system, a new way of playing and they are in a transitional period. Hopefully we can take advantage of that."