Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has revealed the Reds' determination to win the Community Shield is motivated by their new status as champions.
Jurgen Klopp's men take part in the traditional season curtain-opener for the second year running when they take on FA Cup winners Arsenal at Wembley on Saturday afternoon (4.30pm kick off).
Liverpool were beaten on penalties by Manchester City last year and the Scot says the different dynamic to this season's encounter is a driving factor for the side as they look to win the Shield for the first time since 2006.
Robertson told Liverpoolfc.com: "Last season we had that chance [to begin the campaign by lifting a trophy] as well but this feels a bit different this time - you know, we’re there on merit this time.
"Last year we were there because Man City won every trophy going and we’d finished second to them. This year we’re there as champions, Arsenal are obviously there as FA Cup winners. Obviously we fell short last season but we want to start the season right and we want to try to win the trophy that we didn’t get last year and that will be our aim.
"Since the day we came back we’ve been preparing towards that and hopefully we’ve done enough in a short space of time to get fit enough, to get the feeling back and hopefully we can do enough to get the job done and get our hands on that trophy.”
Robertson also revealed that, as far as the squad are concerned, the season's real business starts at Wembley against the Gunners.
"As soon as the competitive games start I think you feel that pre-season is over", Robertson said.
"Obviously it’s a bit different this year as well, we play the Community Shield and then we’ve got internationals straight away which are all competitive so we’ve got a lot of games in a short space of time and Saturday, for us, the season starts.
"It starts when you really start focusing back in and getting ready for every game possible and mentally preparing for a tough season ahead, so that starts on Saturday.
"We want to get the season off to a good start and the only way of doing that is getting our hands on the trophy."
The Scot opened up too on the intensive nature of the pre-season training camp in Austria and how it will serve Liverpool well as they enter what is likely to be one of the most packed ever seasons of fixtures due to the late start to the campaign.
"It was the shortest holiday we’ve ever had, I think we got just over two weeks off, but then it’s the shortest pre-season we’ve had as well", Robertson admitted.
"It meant it [pre-season] was probably a wee bit more intense in terms of it was double sessions most days because we’d only had a short period of time.
"So look, we feel ready, we feel fit. We’ve had two games now, a 45 and 60-minute runout for me, so we feel good to go.
"I’ve got no doubt, I’m sure in both teams there will be some tired bodies on Saturday because it has been a short period of time but that’s part and parcel of it.
"The Community Shield comes earlier than everything and that’s why you get to have six subs, you get to have a bigger squad and things like that.
"All these things get taken into play, but we feel ready. We feel ready to go and compete in every game and every competition and that starts on Saturday.
"Hopefully we can play 90 minutes of the highest level of our football [and] hopefully set a marker down for ourselves for the season ahead."
