Lucas fully focused on maximum hauls
Lucas Leiva has called for tunnel vision on earning three points in each next match after helping Liverpool to achieve that aim with a resolute 1-0 win against Burnley on Boxing Day.
The Reds were forced to battle hard for 90 minutes at Turf Moor, where an energetic display by the hosts caused regular problems, not least when Danny Ings lashed a shot onto the post.
Serious warnings had been served in the first half and required a response, which was provided through Raheem Sterling, who rounded the goalkeeper and converted from Philippe Coutinho's assist.
With maximum spoils to take back to Merseyside, Lucas' attention quickly switched to consecutive home fixtures and the necessity to maintain momentum in the festive period.
"It wasn't the most beautiful game to play in, especially in the first half, where we were probably too deep," the Brazilian reflected to Liverpoolfc.com after the final whistle.
"In the first half the performance wasn't the best, but we showed a lot of character and sometimes you have to win ugly. In the second half we adjusted that and we pressed a lot higher and then started to create chances.
"I think it's a massive win for us because we now have two games at home, and we've kept a clean sheet - we showed we can defend as a team.
"Home games are important to get the three points. We drew in our last match at Anfield, so the next game will be massive. But we have to take it each game at a time.
"We need to keep improving and hopefully in the second half of the season we can be much better. At the moment, we just have to get the three points in every game that we play and see what happens."
Brendan Rodgers continued to deploy a 3-4-3 system at Burnley, using exactly the same starting XI that had produced such an encouragingly dominant performance against Arsenal at Anfield.
Lucas accepted that aspects of the team's work can be fine-tuned further as the players become more acclimatised to the tactic, which has helped a run of just one defeat in nine contests.
"We're still improving all the time," he added. "We're doing a lot of work on the pitch and on the training ground. There are a few things you have to do in each role.
"But I think that since we changed, we have been getting better results and creating more chances. I think it's positive. If we can keep clean sheets, we'll be even better.
"You just have to keep going. This is a busy period for us. I think if we [put together] a good run of games we have a chance to be closer to the top four."