Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has stated that nobody at the club is being distracted by Tottenham's current run of form.
Facing the Reds in the Champions League final back in June, Mauricio Pochettino's team have not enjoyed a good start to the season and currently find themselves eight points off the top four in 10th.
The Lilywhites did return to winning ways on Tuesday evening as they hammered Red Star Belgrade 5-0 in the Champions League, with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min scoring doubles and Erik Lamela also getting his name on the scoresheet.
The games between the two sides over the past few seasons have been incredibly close and Henderson is expecting much of the same at Anfield this afternoon.
"No one here is being distracted by the so called 'issues' which Tottenham have had early on," he told the club's matchday programme. "We know they're an even better side than the one who can rightly call themselves one of Europe's elite after the last campaign.
"They've strengthened in the transfer market and they have that spirit and belief in each other that comes from being together for such a long time.
"I don't think the results from last season will be a motivating factor in this game today, but my personal experience is that these games are unbelievably intense regardless. They're a squad of competitors and so are we.
"The games are usually hectic and tense but of a really high quality. We have to be ready to fight and scrap until the very last kick of the match.
"I think whatever happens both sides have a healthy respect for each other and that usually shows on the pitch when the game is done. We respect their strengths and I think it's fair to say they acknowledge ours.
"It wouldn't be accurate to say we 'enjoy' these games because when you're playing in them that's almost impossible.
"But it's a fixture that now has added significance each season because as clubs we compete with each other on all fronts."
