'Why Reds are relishing busy schedule'

The Dutchman admits no-one at the club is daunted by the task that faces them as the Reds aim to build on their seven-game unbeaten run, which started against AFC Bournemouth in mid-December.

Ahead of today's trip to Aston Villa, we sat down with the goalkeeper coach at Melwood, where he told us how the recently deployed formation has seen Liverpool's fortunes take a turn for the better.

Watch the video here »

John, a good win and a clean sheet at Sunderland - you must have been very pleased from a defensive point of view to keep a clean sheet?

It was good. Sunderland is a very hard and tough place to go and we defended well. We have been defending better in the last few games anyway and we've been more consistent, so we were happy to get the clean sheet and most important of all to win the game.

As a former goalkeeper yourself and now a coach, clean sheets must be like the Promised Land or scoring a last-minute winner?

Yes, because it gives you a chance to win the game and at least get a result, so that's what you need to strive for in every game. It's a mental thing for a goalkeeper, but also for the defence to get into a rhythm and try and keep clean sheets.

What about the switch to a back three then? Does that affect things from a goalkeeping perspective?

It does affect the 'keeper, in terms of how he has to make sure he looks at the organisation of the three central defenders and make sure the gaps between them are the same distance. He needs to ensure that they keep the same line and they are not too far over one side. He needs to pull them back in together and work as a unit and that's when he needs to use his voice to tell them what to do. They have to communicate to each other as well to keep the right shape and that's very important.

It appears going to a back three has had a positive affect on Liverpool - do you believe it has made a difference?

Yes. The back three with the two sitting midfielders in front of them brings a little more stability and protection to the defence. Then, in front of them, we have players with a lot of quality like Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana. Lazar Markovic has been coming on really well, so that is very positive.

Emre Can has come into the back three and impressed everybody. What have you made of his performances?

He is calm on the ball. He has good technical ability and is physically strong so that gives him a good chance. He has a decent background from Germany and he's settled well in that position.

He turned 21 this week - what does that say about his maturity in coming to a new country and functioning like he has played there all his life?

For everyone coming to a new club and especially a new country, you need time to settle in and you see now with players like Emre, Lallana and Markovic - they are settled in now and getting up to the pace we need in the game.

Seven games unbeaten now and there seems to be that good feeling back. It's almost as though things are clicking back to place at the right time...

We are obviously not beating teams at the moment by three, four or five goals like last year, but we have good shape, good quality and we look dangerous going forward. With this shape we are creating chances in every game, so if you can turn those chances into goals and defend better, you obviously have a good chance of winning the game.

You are five points off fourth place. Is this the right time to be hitting form?

Yes. That's what happened in the first year when the manager came in and working on the new structure took time to settle. With new players coming in at the start of the season, it has been similar. Now we are getting used to each other, the players know their strengths and so it gels pretty good. If we lose someone then another player can fill in. It's all positive and we have to keep getting the results coming in. Also, when we play the bigger teams, we need to try to get the results against them.

Do you notice a different feeling around Melwood when results are going well?

Of course. If you are winning games and getting results then there is a positive feel at the club and obviously everyone gets down if results don't go well and that is part of our job. We are all in a good moment, there's a good spirit in the place and we have to keep it going and try to keep improving.

We've won four away on the bounce now. Ahead of the trip to Aston Villa, what do you think has been the key to that improved run of form?

The formation we have been playing. We are playing with a more settled team so everyone starts to understand everyone's role and we are getting more consistency. We are creating a lot more chances playing this way and hopefully we can keep that going and keep the wins coming.

You and the coaching staff watch a lot of videos, looking at the opposition in the lead-up to games. Aston Villa have had a tough spell, but what are you expecting from them in this game?

Although they are not scoring many goals they have still decent players and over the last few years, when they've come up to our place, they can pass and move and make it hard for teams, so we have to prepare for that. Obviously we have to deal with Benteke up front and Agbonlahor, so hopefully with our system we can cope with that and with the quality we have up front we will create chances and we have to take them.

It can be a very unforgiving time, with a couple of semi-finals to play, an FA Cup tie as well as league games - but is this a period the players actually relish?

It's a great chance to get to a final, to get to the next round of the FA Cup and win trophies. We are in every competition still so hopefully we can do well in every competition and win something.