Lambert: Let's use hurt for a response
Rickie Lambert believes that Liverpool have the capacity to transform their midweek frustration into positivity when they face off against rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Reds head to the home of their eternal foes this afternoon on a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions, with the No.9 having started each and every one of those fixtures up front.
Back-to-back Anfield draws with Sunderland and FC Basel stemmed their charge somewhat, however, and the latter result heralded disappointing elimination from the Champions League.
So Lambert is now determined to use the emotions surrounding Tuesday's setback on home soil as the perfect motivation to register the kind of performance required to trouble United.
"It's perfect to get the team rallied up again and get us going again," explained the England international. "Make no mistake, we're hurting, but we're confident we can win the game.
"United are doing well at the minute but it's the old cliché that it doesn't really matter who's doing well and who isn't with this one. It's one of those games that can turn a season and hopefully that can be our kickstart.
"It's something I've always watched. It has turned into probably our most important game over the years. It's brilliant to watch the atmosphere and the intensity of the game.
"There's a lot of respect but a bit of hatred as well. It's everything we want in a game. Two good teams, two top clubs going head-to-head - it's something I'm looking forward to. There's something special about these games."
When Liverpool last made this journey, in March of this year, they returned to Merseyside with all three points and sky-high confidence after producing a clinical display to claim a 3-0 victory.
Lambert accepts that the scenario is different this time around, but promises that the players will approach the contest with the correct balance of defensive awareness and attacking mentality.
"It's very different," assessed the 32-year-old. "Louis van Gaal plays different formations and I would say both teams are very different. We've got to go there with a gameplan.
"I think we've got to be very respectful of the attacking aspect of United. They've got one of the best in the country. But we've got to feel confident that we can attack them as well."