Clarke: We're Satisfied

Steve Clarke believes Liverpool has every reason to be satisfied with their start to 2011-12.

The Reds have picked up seven points from a possible nine in the Barclays Premier League, while they also made sure of a place in the third round of the Carling Cup with a 3-1 win over Exeter City.

A stylish attacking verve has characterized Liverpool's performances this term - and Clarke feels everyone within the camp can feel pleased with their efforts thus far.

The first-team coach told Liverpoolfc.tv: "We're all reasonably satisfied with the start. Obviously we're two points missing from the perfect start, but if you analyze the performances and how we've done, everybody should be quite happy.

"Each game individually has had pleasing aspects. It was important to go into the international break on the back of a good performance and win. We got that against Bolton, so that's probably been the most satisfying game so far."

Although many of Liverpool's first-team stars are currently away from Melwood in action for their countries, work continues at the club's training complex in preparation for the trip to Stoke City on September 10.

Clarke is eager to stress the importance of ensuring the international hiatus is of minimal disruption.

He said: "We've got a small group of players here. The internationals have gone and it's important for us to manage the players that are here well and make sure they don't lose out on their work on the training pitch and in the gym because we have to keep them fit and ready for the next game.

"We're here, we're working hard and when the international break comes along you've just go to deal with it. From our point of view, we'd like to have them all here working towards the next game, but we don't get them back until the Wednesday before we play Stoke City. From there, we prepare the team for the game."

He added: "The plans have started (for Stoke), but obviously you cannot only work with five players before the game.

"We'll be watching videos, preparing, and I'll be having a little think about training sessions and what we can do when we get the whole group back together.

"They'll come back Wednesday, most will have played on the Tuesday night and be a little bit tired, so on Thursday and Friday we'll start to nail down a few details for the weekend.

"But we should go into the game in a good moment. We finished the first part of the season on a high, we'll go through the international with hopefully no injuries and then we have to get ready for a couple of difficult away games."

While Clarke's work during the break will predominantly be done at Melwood, he'll be keen to take in as much of the internationals as possible.

Indeed, the Scot will be at Craven Cottage on Monday night to take in Brazil against Ghana - a match Lucas Leiva is expected to figure in.

He said: "You can always pick up a game that's interesting, whether it's by television coverage or getting down to watch it. I'm actually penciled in to go and watch Lucas play against Ghana

"There's always something you can do and always a game you can watch - and who knows? You might identify a talent for the future."