Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp knows they can lay down a marker in the Community Shield against Manchester City.
The manager knows that any game against City is an important fixture in the context of a season that will be spent slugging out another title fight against their biggest rivals.
We have to prove ourselves during the season, not in one game. If I have to say this would be the statement for the season, I would be really mad," he explained.
But we play against City the most difficult game of every season. You have to be ready. It's a good test of the things that are there.
We have to defend in a good way because if you don't defend well against City we can get a proper knock.
All the things I said, I don't want to find excuses before we play them, but we had a completely different pre-season. We played without six players and to say this must be the statement for us would be completely mad.
We have to be as good as possible on that day. I cannot change that, I cannot lie to the people. No problem making pre-season without six players, we have to do it.
"If we win it, good. Will it have an influence on the season? I don't think so.
"If we lose it, not good. Will it have an influence on the season. No, again, I don't think so, we can't let that happen."
