Steve Bull: Let’s start as we mean to go on

Jurgen Klopp’s team are going through a tricky run, but they are still a top side, while we go into it on the back of a 0-0 draw against Villa last weekend.

That was a fair result, to be honest. I thought there would be some goals in it, and there should have been, but it was the same old story – slow first half and good second half.

It has been the case for a couple of years, really, where we have tended not to come out of the blocks.

So, that’s what we need to change, and especially against a quality outfit like Liverpool.

The draw against Villa was not the worst result, of course. It was a decent point, but it is just a bit frustrating that we didn’t get going early doors and could have been 2-0 down after 10 minutes.

Nuno said afterwards he is looking for the reason as to why it is happening, and Conor Coady said they need to snap out of it as well.

To me, it seems to be a mental thing and a case of trying to break the habit.

When the ball is on that centre spot and you’re kicking off, that first pass can dictate how you’re going to play.

It needs to be sharp, into the feet, and the next pass off in the blink of an eye.

So, I do think it is mental, and it would be lovely to see them put in a complete 90-minute performance as there hasn’t been too many of them this season yet, unfortunately.

In terms of Liverpool, you could say it’s a nice time to play them, and also one of the worst times to play them.

They have had a difficult spell and will want to give someone a hiding soon.

I’d just like to see us go toe to toe with them and give them a tough game, but it won’t be easy.

Fingers crossed, Jota won’t come back and haunt us either.

We will see whether he starts or not, but he has done really well for them and hopefully that continues – just not against us.

If Willy Boly is fit enough, I’d get him back into the defence.

Whether you go with Willian Jose or Fabio Silva up front is a tight call, but the main thing is starting as we mean to go on.