'They'll know about the derby tonight'
Liverpool's summer recruits have been suitably educated about the demands of a Merseyside derby at Melwood this week, but Brendan Rodgers admits that you can only truly appreciate its importance once it is experienced.
Many of the eight signings who joined the club for the new campaign can expect to feature when Everton make the short journey to Anfield early on Saturday for the 223rd edition of one of world football's fiercest contests.
Those who needed guidance will now have all of the necessary details about why today's encounter matters for more than just the three crucial Barclays Premier League points that are on offer for two sides determined to quickly climb the table.
It decides which set of supporters can walk into their workplace on Monday morning with a beaming smile, who can enjoy the remainder of the weekend safe in the knowledge that their team proved dominant against age-old rivals.
"This game is about the three points but it's more than that - it's for the pride and honour of the supporters," Rodgers insisted to Liverpoolfc.com.
"They give us incredible backing so we hope we can make it a proud day for them by getting the three points. There's a dual purpose - kick-start our season and give them something to sing about.
"The games I've been involved in against Everton have been really special occasions with the atmosphere - and this weekend will be no different.
"And in particular at Anfield, where last season's game was incredible. We hope that we can get a similar performance and result. We have spoken to [the new players] on it but they'll never truly know until experiencing one.
"I had heard all about it; I had spoken to the guys and the supporters. But it wasn't really until I had the first experience of it, both at Goodison and at Anfield, that I realised the tension that's involved in the game.
"So that's something that, come Saturday evening, they'll know much more about and have a much greater experience of the derby. It truly is a unique experience."
Victory would matter at any time but not least at a moment when Liverpool have suffered defeat in three of their five Premier League matches at the beginning of the season.
When the Blues last took to the Anfield turf, in January of this year, an electric display of scarcely believable power, energy and clinical finishing carried the home side to a stunning 4-0 triumph.
The performance was an undoubted catalyst in the subsequent streak of games that almost took the Reds to a long-awaited championship - and Rodgers is now targeting a similarly inspirational outcome.
Of the prospect and consequence of claiming three points, the Northern Irishman said: "Hopefully it would provide a platform for us to then go on and consistently get results in the league.
"There have been a number of reasons why we haven't been as fluent over the course of the season so far, but the players are doing their best.
"We need to be better organised and concentrated more in certain elements of our game, and then we need to reintroduce the principles that have brought us a very high win ratio over the last 18 months.
"That's about getting our tempo and intensity back in our passing. That will hopefully return at the weekend. If you get a win in the derby game, like we showed last season, we went on and didn't drop so many points after that.
"It would certainly help. The real catalyst will be the return of our influential players. But it can give you great confidence if you win against your rivals and obviously one of your greatest rivals."