Toure: We'll need to give this everything
Kolo Toure is no stranger to the intensity of English football's fiercest rivalries and he insists it will take every ounce of Liverpool's character for them to clinch a result against Manchester United this afternoon.
The Ivorian collected the Standard Chartered Player of the Month prize for his performances in November on Friday morning, before later in the day Brendan Rodgers confirmed he will be in the fold for the trip to Old Trafford.
Toure missed Liverpool's game against FC Basel on Tuesday due to a groin injury; however, prior to the Champions League clash, the centre-back had helped his side earn two clean sheets in three Barclays Premier League ties.
The 33-year-old played no part when the Reds beat United 3-0 on their last visit to Old Trafford in March this year - but he did feature during the slender victory over the Red Devils at Anfield earlier in the 2013-14 season.
Having tasted the north London derby with Arsenal and played for Manchester City against today's opponents too, Toure knows what it takes to come out on top in these games, when the atmosphere is ramped up to fever pitch.
"It's a massive rivalry between Liverpool and United," he told Liverpoolfc.com. "It's definitely a really special game. I'm looking forward to it. We need to give everything.
"The team is getting better in the league and we just need to carry on doing what we're doing - fight, work hard and give everything we have got in the game.
"This league is really tough. If you want to be near the top of the table, you have to be able to go away from home and win games.
"We showed that last season and this season we've done it as well. We'll go and give 100 per cent, working hard for the three points. It's a big game, but for us, the points are really important right now. We'll work with our heart to get the points."