Sakho: We'll save the talk for after
Mamadou Sakho doesn't want to do his talking anywhere other than on the football pitch.
With league leaders Liverpool preparing to host Manchester City in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday, the pre-match conversation throughout the week has been endless.
The amount of discussion ahead of the hugely anticipated Anfield tie is a natural consequence of the position Brendan Rodgers' side find themselves in with five games remaining.
Victory against City today would earn the Reds a seven-point advantage over the visitors and extend their winning streak to a remarkable 10 successive matches.
Fans are daring to wonder what may follow before the season concludes on May 11, although the manager and his players must take a wholly opposite approach.
That was never more evident than when Liverpoolfc.com met French defender Sakho during a brief pause in preparations at Melwood earlier this week.
"I'm not one for talking too much before a matchday," the No.17 said. "With the game not yet underway, all the better not to. The match has not yet been played, so we will see.
"We'll see how the manager wants to set up tactically and the way he wants us to play. Quite simply, we will listen to the manager's instructions and then we'll do the best we can.
"It's going to be a great game between two of the top sides in the league and whoever wins will find themselves in a stronger position to go on and win the title."
In the absence of vice-captain Daniel Agger, centre-back Sakho returned to Rodgers' starting XI for the triumphant trip to West Ham United last weekend.
Fans were treated to a commanding display by the September 2013 signing, who offered insurance at the back in addition to assurance on the ball.
And the powerful former Paris Saint-Germain player has spent the days since ensuring that he is at optimal condition for the challenge of City.
"It's a very important game but I think that we are prepared for it and we are ready for it," added the 24-year-old.
"We are working throughout this week to be ready, so we are certain about our qualities when the game gets underway."