Hull City defender Curtis Davies perhaps provided the most eloquent summary yet of the difficulties of facing Liverpool after his side's 5-1 defeat at Anfield last month.

The Englishman waxed lyrical about the fluid nature of the Reds' attacking unit, which the Tigers failed to keep quiet as they were beaten in the second Anfield game of the season.

"When you play against a Liverpool team that is vibrant, exciting and enjoying itself, it is tough. They are a side which literally plays with [Jordan] Henderson and the two centre-halves at the back and the rest can go wherever they want.

"That is not ill discipline, it's organised. The interchanging, the good football, the passing - they are a very, very tough team to deal with when they are on their game. It is hard to lay a glove on anyone, put it that way. When there is so much interchanging, you cannot put your mark on one person.

"It is tough to try to get in and try to make a tackle which makes them think again because literally one second Mane will be in that hole, then Lallana and then Coutinho. With the full-backs playing like wingers, it becomes very difficult because you end up with backs against the wall."