Rafa Benitez has told his Liverpool players not to lose their composure in Saturday's potentially explosive Merseyside derby against Everton.
There is no love lost between Benitez's side and Everton at the best of times, but the 206th meeting between the old enemies will be even more combustable than usual.
Everton defender Alan Stubbs piled pressure on Benitez this week by claiming clubs of Liverpool's size should be challenging for the title every year.
That outburst may have been provoked by Benitez describing Everton a smaller club than Liverpool last season.
The rows will raise the temperature when the teams collide at Goodison Park in a game Liverpool desperately need to win.
After a run of one victory in four league matches left them trailing in the wake of leaders Arsenal, Benitez knows he cannot afford a repeat of last season's 3-0 defeat at Everton, so he needs all his players to keep cool in the derby malestrom.
"In these kind of games it is more important because everyone is talking about the rivalry between both teams," he said.
"You must be as focused as always with maybe more determination. You must analyse the game with a cool mind because if you think about last year you will lose your concentration and it is important to make the right decisions.
"If you are top of the table or bottom of the table it doesn't matter because this game is different. Collective responsibility is not the key just for this game it is the key for a winning team."
Fernando Torres, Alvaro Arbeloa, Andriy Voronin, Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun and Javier Mascherano are all in line for their first taste of a Merseyside derby.
While Benitez is concerned by his side's recent struggles, he believes Liverpool can reverse that poor run if they don't panic.
He said: "It is a good game for us now because we are not playing well and this one after the international break is important for our confidence.
"In football everything goes so quickly so it is important to be calm, look at the big picture and analyse everything.
"You have to say, 'I have a lot of confidence in my team, I want to win trophies with my club so if I have confidence how can I do this?' By working hard and getting the right selection."
Torres is making good progress from a thigh problem, while midfielder Xabi Alonso is close to a return after recovering from a broken metatarsal.
There is no love lost between Benitez's side and Everton at the best of times, but the 206th meeting between the old enemies will be even more combustable than usual.
Everton defender Alan Stubbs piled pressure on Benitez this week by claiming clubs of Liverpool's size should be challenging for the title every year.
That outburst may have been provoked by Benitez describing Everton a smaller club than Liverpool last season.
The rows will raise the temperature when the teams collide at Goodison Park in a game Liverpool desperately need to win.
After a run of one victory in four league matches left them trailing in the wake of leaders Arsenal, Benitez knows he cannot afford a repeat of last season's 3-0 defeat at Everton, so he needs all his players to keep cool in the derby malestrom.
"In these kind of games it is more important because everyone is talking about the rivalry between both teams," he said.
"You must be as focused as always with maybe more determination. You must analyse the game with a cool mind because if you think about last year you will lose your concentration and it is important to make the right decisions.
"If you are top of the table or bottom of the table it doesn't matter because this game is different. Collective responsibility is not the key just for this game it is the key for a winning team."
Fernando Torres, Alvaro Arbeloa, Andriy Voronin, Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun and Javier Mascherano are all in line for their first taste of a Merseyside derby.
While Benitez is concerned by his side's recent struggles, he believes Liverpool can reverse that poor run if they don't panic.
He said: "It is a good game for us now because we are not playing well and this one after the international break is important for our confidence.
"In football everything goes so quickly so it is important to be calm, look at the big picture and analyse everything.
"You have to say, 'I have a lot of confidence in my team, I want to win trophies with my club so if I have confidence how can I do this?' By working hard and getting the right selection."
Torres is making good progress from a thigh problem, while midfielder Xabi Alonso is close to a return after recovering from a broken metatarsal.
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