Liverpool face a tough trip to Eastlands on Sunday as the Reds resume Premiership duties with a clash against Manchester City.
The Reds make the short journey to Manchester boasting an unbeaten record in the league but manager Rafael Benitez is aware that the club now thought to be the richest in the world following their takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group will provide a stern test.
However, Benitez believes that getting back-to-back victories and building momentum is more important than winning a solitary game at the likes of City in order to have a genuine crack at the Premiership title.
"If you want to be a contender in the league, you have to be consistent - you have to win games in a row," he said.
"I'm not sure whether this is the type of game we need to win if we want to win the league.
"People were saying that about the Stoke game, saying 'you need to win this game, you need to win this game'.
"But we beat United and Everton either side of it. Of course, you need to win every game you can because the competition at the top of the Premier League this season is going to be really difficult.
"You can't guarantee that winning a game like City away will make a massive difference at the end of the season."
The Reds could consider themselves unfortunate to have come away from the City of Manchester Stadium with only a point last December and it's a result that still irritates Benitez.
He says: "It was clear last season that we were in a good moment but it finished 0-0 even though we had a lot of chances. It is important to do the right things this year.
"I remember the game really well. It was a good game and we played really well but could not score.
"We had chances in the first half and at the start of the second half Torres had two chances and there was one at the end, so I was really disappointed that we could not score because we deserved to win.
"At the time we were in a good moment. We had a lot of confidence and the team was playing well so the timing was bad for us.
"It is important to recognise that it is different this time though.
"It is another season with different players so hopefully the outcome will be better for us this time.
"The only similarity is that we are playing well now as we were then so we have to try and make sure that we are ready and that we take our chances if they come."
City are expected to spend heavily in the January transfer window and Benitez believes that Mark Hughes' side can pose a threat to the so called 'big four'.
He said: "They have a good team, with good players and a good manager - so why not? They could be near the top of the table, but Aston Villa have also spent a lot of money and other teams could also be there.
"I think that they will be thinking about improving every weekend. And after they bring new players, it is all about how they are settling and if they can understand each other. Foreign players will always need time, so I think it is not easy to sign top class players and get them to play well from the very first game.
"I think our main thing at the moment is to think about how we can improve our own team this year and for the future too. Every year you hear about Tottenham or Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle or West Ham and Manchester City now, but we have to do our job.
"City's money can obviously help when you're trying to sign the best players. But you need a squad in place too, the balance of which is the key if you want to win trophies.
"Everyone is talking about them, but any questions about whether the money makes it more difficult for them is one for Mark Hughes to answer.
"They were a good team beforehand, they are a good team now and they will be better in the future."
Liverpool's excellent form both domestically and in Europe will give Benitez serious selection headaches over the coming weeks with several high-profile players left warming the substitutes bench recently, but the manager believes that this is a sign of the Reds' progress.
"You know that if you want to win games and try to win trophies that you have a good squad," he said.
"I have said this is the best squad we have had since I came to the club.
"It is not easy for me to pick a team when so many of the players are confident and playing well but it is better to be this way than for your team to pick itself because only some of your players are playing well."
Benitez must decide whether to recall Javier Mascherano into Liverpool's midfield tomorrow or stick with Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso in the centre.
Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel picked up minor knocks in the Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven in midweek but both are available to play.
Daniel Agger continues to push for a starting berth while Albert Riera could start against the club he spent six months on-loan at in 2006.
City are sweating on the fitness of centre-back Richard Dunne after he missed Thursday's Uefa Cup victory over Omonia Nicosia with a hamstring problem. Tal Ben Haim will deputise if needed.
Martin Petrov is pushing for a recall to the starting line-up while the most expensive player in British football history, Robinho, will start.
PROBABLE TEAM LINE-UPS:
Manchester City from: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Ben Haim, Garrido, Ball, Elano, Kompany, Ireland, Hamann, Fernandes, Petrov, Wright-Phillips, Robinho, Jo, Schmeichel, Evans, Sturridge, Glauber, Etuhu.
Liverpool from: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio, Dossena, Babel, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Benayoun, Riera, Torres, Kuyt, Keane, Lucas, Cavalieri.
The Reds make the short journey to Manchester boasting an unbeaten record in the league but manager Rafael Benitez is aware that the club now thought to be the richest in the world following their takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group will provide a stern test.
However, Benitez believes that getting back-to-back victories and building momentum is more important than winning a solitary game at the likes of City in order to have a genuine crack at the Premiership title.
"If you want to be a contender in the league, you have to be consistent - you have to win games in a row," he said.
"I'm not sure whether this is the type of game we need to win if we want to win the league.
"People were saying that about the Stoke game, saying 'you need to win this game, you need to win this game'.
"But we beat United and Everton either side of it. Of course, you need to win every game you can because the competition at the top of the Premier League this season is going to be really difficult.
"You can't guarantee that winning a game like City away will make a massive difference at the end of the season."
The Reds could consider themselves unfortunate to have come away from the City of Manchester Stadium with only a point last December and it's a result that still irritates Benitez.
He says: "It was clear last season that we were in a good moment but it finished 0-0 even though we had a lot of chances. It is important to do the right things this year.
"I remember the game really well. It was a good game and we played really well but could not score.
"We had chances in the first half and at the start of the second half Torres had two chances and there was one at the end, so I was really disappointed that we could not score because we deserved to win.
"At the time we were in a good moment. We had a lot of confidence and the team was playing well so the timing was bad for us.
"It is important to recognise that it is different this time though.
"It is another season with different players so hopefully the outcome will be better for us this time.
"The only similarity is that we are playing well now as we were then so we have to try and make sure that we are ready and that we take our chances if they come."
City are expected to spend heavily in the January transfer window and Benitez believes that Mark Hughes' side can pose a threat to the so called 'big four'.
He said: "They have a good team, with good players and a good manager - so why not? They could be near the top of the table, but Aston Villa have also spent a lot of money and other teams could also be there.
"I think that they will be thinking about improving every weekend. And after they bring new players, it is all about how they are settling and if they can understand each other. Foreign players will always need time, so I think it is not easy to sign top class players and get them to play well from the very first game.
"I think our main thing at the moment is to think about how we can improve our own team this year and for the future too. Every year you hear about Tottenham or Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle or West Ham and Manchester City now, but we have to do our job.
"City's money can obviously help when you're trying to sign the best players. But you need a squad in place too, the balance of which is the key if you want to win trophies.
"Everyone is talking about them, but any questions about whether the money makes it more difficult for them is one for Mark Hughes to answer.
"They were a good team beforehand, they are a good team now and they will be better in the future."
Liverpool's excellent form both domestically and in Europe will give Benitez serious selection headaches over the coming weeks with several high-profile players left warming the substitutes bench recently, but the manager believes that this is a sign of the Reds' progress.
"You know that if you want to win games and try to win trophies that you have a good squad," he said.
"I have said this is the best squad we have had since I came to the club.
"It is not easy for me to pick a team when so many of the players are confident and playing well but it is better to be this way than for your team to pick itself because only some of your players are playing well."
Benitez must decide whether to recall Javier Mascherano into Liverpool's midfield tomorrow or stick with Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso in the centre.
Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel picked up minor knocks in the Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven in midweek but both are available to play.
Daniel Agger continues to push for a starting berth while Albert Riera could start against the club he spent six months on-loan at in 2006.
City are sweating on the fitness of centre-back Richard Dunne after he missed Thursday's Uefa Cup victory over Omonia Nicosia with a hamstring problem. Tal Ben Haim will deputise if needed.
Martin Petrov is pushing for a recall to the starting line-up while the most expensive player in British football history, Robinho, will start.
PROBABLE TEAM LINE-UPS:
Manchester City from: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Ben Haim, Garrido, Ball, Elano, Kompany, Ireland, Hamann, Fernandes, Petrov, Wright-Phillips, Robinho, Jo, Schmeichel, Evans, Sturridge, Glauber, Etuhu.
Liverpool from: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio, Dossena, Babel, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Benayoun, Riera, Torres, Kuyt, Keane, Lucas, Cavalieri.
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