Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has challenged his side to "embrace" the quick turnaround after Champions League fixtures this season.
The Reds host Burnley at Anfield this afternoon just days after marking their return to the Champions League with a 2-2 draw against Sevilla.
The quick turnaround will be relatively unfamiliar for a team that had no European commitments last season, but Klopp insists that the club will need to quickly readjust if they hope to have prolonged success both domestically and abroad.
"This afternoon the focus is back on the Premier League and a really, really tough game against Burnley. We saw last season, home and away, just how good Burnley are, and in my opinion they get even better for this campaign. Sean [Dyche], I am sure, is rightly proud of how he continues to build his team and improve them each and every campaign. They have threats all over the pitch. Often the focus is on their fight and spirit and how they are a difficult opponent to play against," Klopp wrote in This is Anfield.
"All this is true. But what is also true is that they have quality and talent to hurt when attacking. We are aware and prepared for all these threats and know that unless we perform to the highest level again we will not be happy at full time. It is a test for us, following such a high-intensity Champions League night with a high-intensity Premier League fixture. We have had experience already this season because of the qualifier matches.
"It's something we need to embrace and be good at, because the plan is to have a long European campaign and to be doing this season after season. This applies to our brilliant supporters also. I think the Anfield crowd on Wednesday were outstandingly good in lifting the team in big moments. We will need this more so today.
"We don't have too many 3pm Saturday kickoffs, but I know these are 'traditional' in England. Hopefully this produces a 'traditional' Anfield atmosphere and it will give the players extra energy in the moments when they require it."
Liverpool go into the game sitting eighth in the Premier League table, having picked up seven points from their opening four games.
Barney Corkhill
