Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is hopeful that the minds of his players will be fully focused on Sunday's clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage, despite a mouthwatering tie with Tottenham Hotspur coming up next week.
Liverpool will travel to the banks of the Thames this weekend knowing that a victory over the Cottagers, who who were promoted back to the Premier League from the Championship last season, could see them go top of the Premier League if Spurs drop points against Crystal Palace earlier in the day on Sunday.
As this weekend's fixtures approach, Spurs currently sit at the top of the table ahead of Klopp's Liverpool on goal-difference, meaning there is barely anything to separate them ahead of next Wednesday's meeting between the two sides at Anfield.
Although the hype concerning next Wednesday's fixture has already started, with it being dubbed as a clash that could go a long way in determining the title shake-up, Klopp is wanting his players to put all of their focus on the trip to Craven Cottage.
"I hope none of our players will think about Tottenham when we are in Fulham, being honest," said Klopp ahead of Sunday's trip to Craven Cottage. "The situation is like it is at the top of the table everywhere, pretty much, meaning there is not a lot of difference in between.
"We know that, I do not have to tell the boys constantly.
"Fulham are a really good football playing side and the performances they have shown have not been rewarded with results. The fight to stay in the league is a tight run as well, so they will fight for everything and every point will help them.
"The more we let them play, the more we have to defend. The more you have to defend, the more you have to run, so these kind of things really have to be spot on in this game.
"Since Scott Parker took over there, it has been a constant development there. Getting promoted from the most difficult second league in the world is a tough one and he did that as a pretty young coach, actually, so he is doing a really good job and I respect that a lot."
Spurs will travel to Anfield next week aiming to register their first away win over Liverpool since May 2011, an occasion that saw them register a 2-0 win.
