BR: We've transformed since Upton Park loss
Brendan Rodgers has challenged his players to demonstrate how far they have come since losing at Upton Park in September by gaining revenge against West Ham United at Anfield on Saturday.
The Northern Irishman watched with dismay as Liverpool's defensive ranks were pieced apart by the Hammers in the reverse of tomorrow's Barclays Premier League fixture in London four months ago.
Chaos reigned supreme in the Reds' penalty area as Winston Reid and Diafra Sakho both hit the back of the net within the first seven minutes of play to send the home crowd into rapture.
Morgan Amalfitano's composed finish towards the end of the tie rendered Raheem Sterling's instinctive first-half drive meaningless as the visitors endured a sobering 3-1 loss at the hands of Sam Allardyce's side.
Rodgers believes Liverpool have improved beyond all recognition since that forgettable occasion - and he wants the team to underline their transition with a confident display at Anfield tomorrow.
"It's a different team and a different mentality," Rodgers told reporters gathered at Melwood for his pre-West Ham press briefing on Thursday.
"I think at that point in time we were struggling. We were trying to play with the same flow and the same rhythm, but we just couldn't find it at that time. I think you see now the confidence in the team. I think we've returned to the top level.
"Our only improvement that we need to make is that efficiency in the final third. How we arrive there and how we get there and the speed and how we create the chances is there. But we just need to be more efficient once we get in, and hopefully that will come."
An impressive season so far from West Ham has propelled the east London outfit to seventh in the league standings, where they sit a point and a place ahead of Rodgers' charges.
The Hammers, like Liverpool, are looking up the table towards a potential top-four finish - and Rodgers believes victory over Allardyce's men would signal a step in the right direction for his side.
"I think West Ham have done great," said the Northern Irishman. "I think Sam will believe that he still has every chance of getting into the top four.
"There will be plenty of people telling them that they can't do it and they can't make it and they won't have a strong enough squad, but you've just got to control all of that and really focus on yourself.
"Sam's a very experienced manager. He's been a leading figure in the game for a long time. He understands the game very well and he will understand that his team have done fantastic this season. So it will be a tough game for us. There's no doubt about that."
He added: "[The race for the top four] is going to be exciting. There are a number of teams that are going to be involved in it. We want to ensure that we arrive there and we have got to keep chipping away.
"So if we get a positive result on Saturday, then we're going to be in that position. With Daniel [Sturridge] coming back and getting back to fitness, then that will put us in a great position for the final run-in of the season."