Gary Ablett has overhauled reserves training in a bid to get their season back on track.
The second string go into tonight's mini-derby – a game you can watch exclusively live online through LFC TV – on the back of more intense training designed to guard against complacency.
It comes after the Reds began the defence of their Premier League title by gaining just three points from a possible nine.
Ablett told Liverpoolfc.tv: "As a staff we've been trying to put a few things right because we only lost one game last year and we've lost two already this time round.
"We've had to look at ourselves and the training methods, and look at the attitude of the boys to see if that's any different.
"Every now and again the boys need geeing up. The attitude of the majority is absolutely fantastic but they need to perform to their maximum day in, day out in order to progress at Liverpool.
"We've got to guard against complacency creeping in and we're looking at doing that by making training more competitive and intensive. They can't afford to relax if they want to get into Rafa's plans.
"We're now trying to set different scenarios in training. For example, we might play a game as if we're 1-0 down, or 2-1 up with 10 minutes to go. They have to think about whether to defend or attack. Another way we can do it is reducing the size of the area we play in to make it more intensive.
"We are better than what we've shown so far. There's a massive amount of room for improvement but the boys have showed they want to put it right."
Ablett led his team to a satisfying double over Everton last term.
The former defender believes this trick will only be repeating if his young guns keep their heads.
He explained: "If you ask our local players, they'll say it's one of the games they look forward to most. But since last year we've had a lot of players who aren't local and don't get caught up in the Liverpool v Everton stuff.
"That helps in terms of approaching the game more intelligently and playing with our heads rather than our hearts.
"That's the key to winning these kind of games.
"We've got a lot of players who've experienced this game and know what it's all about, but we've got some new players who we hope will approach it in the same way and not be overawed by the occasion."
The second string go into tonight's mini-derby – a game you can watch exclusively live online through LFC TV – on the back of more intense training designed to guard against complacency.
It comes after the Reds began the defence of their Premier League title by gaining just three points from a possible nine.
Ablett told Liverpoolfc.tv: "As a staff we've been trying to put a few things right because we only lost one game last year and we've lost two already this time round.
"We've had to look at ourselves and the training methods, and look at the attitude of the boys to see if that's any different.
"Every now and again the boys need geeing up. The attitude of the majority is absolutely fantastic but they need to perform to their maximum day in, day out in order to progress at Liverpool.
"We've got to guard against complacency creeping in and we're looking at doing that by making training more competitive and intensive. They can't afford to relax if they want to get into Rafa's plans.
"We're now trying to set different scenarios in training. For example, we might play a game as if we're 1-0 down, or 2-1 up with 10 minutes to go. They have to think about whether to defend or attack. Another way we can do it is reducing the size of the area we play in to make it more intensive.
"We are better than what we've shown so far. There's a massive amount of room for improvement but the boys have showed they want to put it right."
Ablett led his team to a satisfying double over Everton last term.
The former defender believes this trick will only be repeating if his young guns keep their heads.
He explained: "If you ask our local players, they'll say it's one of the games they look forward to most. But since last year we've had a lot of players who aren't local and don't get caught up in the Liverpool v Everton stuff.
"That helps in terms of approaching the game more intelligently and playing with our heads rather than our hearts.
"That's the key to winning these kind of games.
"We've got a lot of players who've experienced this game and know what it's all about, but we've got some new players who we hope will approach it in the same way and not be overawed by the occasion."
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