Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp referenced Sunderland as he denied he'd rather his side face an easier challenge than Newcastle United , ahead of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second-leg against Barcelona.
The German takes his side to St James' Park on the back of a 3-0 thumping at the Nou Camp, and with only a few days between Saturday night's game - which could see his side's Premier League title hopes ended - and the second-leg, he was asked about facing an easier challenge that the Magpies.
However, Klopp batted away suggestions that he'd rather face an easier game.
"We are in a very positive mood," he said in his pre-match press conference.
"The game will be difficult but we still want to play - we don't want to play, I don't know, rather Sunderland because it [the Barcelona game] is around the corner.
"We want to go there [St James' Park] and play the game."
Liverpool are one place and one point behind Manchester City in the race for the title.
And despite being comfortably beaten by Barcelona on Wednesday, Klopp insists there will be no hangover.
"The boys are completely on fire," said Klopp.
"When you are in the race and you see you can win it, you don't get tired, that's how it is. You get an extra boost and you find something.
"We are ambitious like hell but we still know it's not 100% in our hands. The only thing we can do is beat Newcastle and that's unbelievably difficult.
"That is our problem, not what two teams [Manchester City and Leicester] are doing on Monday night.
"Our problem is how to find a way to beat Newcastle.
"We respect them so much. Rafa is doing an incredible job there - again.
"It will be difficult and that is just how it is but we will still try."
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