Kelly keen on a special Reds reunion
Although he hopes it does not begin this Sunday, former Liverpool defender Martin Kelly is confident that his old team can rediscover their form and clamber up the Barclays Premier League standings this season.
The 24-year-old left Anfield in the summer after 62 appearances and a single goal for the Reds, joining Crystal Palace, who host Brendan Rodgers' side at Selhurst Park for the resumption of domestic duties at the weekend.
Liverpool head to the capital in search of a much-needed turnaround in results, having endured three successive defeats - by Newcastle United, Real Madrid and Chelsea - before the pause in Premier League action.
Kelly will hope to be selected for the task of preventing that from happening in two days' time, but the Englishman nevertheless believes Rodgers' charges have the quality to post victories on the board sooner rather than later.
"It's been difficult for them but I'm sure they will come back strong," he told the Liverpool Echo. "They've got too many good players there not to. The fans just need to be patient as the talent is there.
"They have struggled to score goals this season. But all teams go through periods like this. You look at the way the Premier League is at the moment, everyone apart from Chelsea seems to be dropping points.
"Liverpool still have a massive chance to get into the top four and they could still make it out of their Champions League group as well."
Kelly has clocked up nine league appearances for the Eagles since his transfer from Merseyside and is determined to move into double figures on Sunday - strange though he expects the feeling to be.
The full-back explained: "It will be good to see everyone again. It's going to be strange because Liverpool were my club from childhood.
"But you ask any footballer and they'll tell you that once the whistle goes you are in game mode. I'll have a Crystal Palace shirt on and I'll be fighting hard to get a result for us.
"The manager opted to change things slightly for the last game so I'm not sure whether I'll start on Sunday, but I'm doing everything I can to get back in the side. I'd love to play in this one."
A popular figure among supporters and within the dressing room throughout his time with the Reds, Kelly is assured a friendly reception when he is reunited with the players that he used to call teammates.
Not least because he remains in close touch with several of his former colleagues, while Rodgers has retained enough of an eye on the defender's progress to have made contact in recent weeks.
"I feel very fortunate to have got so much experience from my time at Liverpool and learned so much," added Kelly. "My goal at Stamford Bridge to get us through in the League Cup in the season we won it in 2012 is a special memory for me.
"I worked under some great managers and played alongside some of the world's best players. That washed off on me and helped turn me into a really good pro.
"I'm glad that I left Liverpool on such good terms. I know if I'm ever back home I could walk into Melwood and spend time with the players and the staff.
"I still speak to Jordan Henderson, Jon Flanagan and Lucas, and I was in contact with Brendan a few weeks back. He texted me after a game just to say how much I must be loving playing regularly again and that meant a lot. I know if I ever needed any advice on anything I could call him."