Boss anticipates top battle with Spurs
Brendan Rodgers has predicted a fascinating battle between two teams on a very promising league run as Liverpool host Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night.
Over the past six top-flight fixtures, the Reds are at the summit of the form table on 14 points, with the north Londoners in second spot with 13.
In the same sequence, the 42-year-old's charges are unbeaten, with Mauricio Pochettino's men suffering one defeat, which was away to Crystal Palace.
Liverpool versus Spurs is the third most prolific fixture in the Barclays Premier League era, and with both sides employing a similar philosophy, the encounter at Anfield promises to be an absorbing one - especially in the context of the race for fourth spot.
Tottenham are currently one position off the Champions League places, with the Merseysiders four points behind them.
"It's one, because of the start we had to the season, it's put a little more importance on this game," Rodgers said in his pre-match press conference at Melwood.
"We'll look to win it as it will just put us a point behind them and also keeps up the momentum. If we don't win the game, it just puts pressure on the other fixtures we'll have in the rest of the run.
"It will be a great game with two teams in good form. They come back off a good result [winning the North London derby], and for us, the way we've been working has been a real highlight.
"We played very well against them earlier on in this season and their philosophy is still the same; they want to press the game and dominate the ball, and for us it's similar so it will be a very fascinating game."
Rodgers has overseen a dominance over Spurs, with Liverpool winning the last four fixtures with an aggregate score of 15-2. But the Northern Irishman does not imagine there'll be a psychological edge.
"Every game is different," he said. "Last season we went away and won at Tottenham [5-0], even though we arrived at White Hart Lane without a good record there.
"We've now gone there again this season and been very convincing in our victory. It's been the same at home, but we know in the context, it will be a very tough game."
Harry Kane, who has netted 22 goals in all competitions thus far - the most of any player in the league - will be one of the threats Liverpool will be mindful of. However, the priority for the Reds manager will be making sure his side enforce their tactical plan.
"He's shown all his life he's a finisher. He's got different types of finishes. When you play a high-pressure game, you need your striker to run and press - he leads the line very well in that aspect," explained Rodgers of the in-form Englishman.
"You have to pay attention to threats. He is good around the box and he's always looking to get a goal.
"But our focus will very much be on our own game and we've got a very talented group here who have been performing well and we just need to find that clinical edge at the top end of the field.
"The balance defensively in the team has been great, and we've worked on that, now we just need to finish our chances."