Jurgen Klopp is comfortable with Liverpool chasing Manchester City in the Premier League title race.
This weekend will be the first time that the Reds have trailed the reigning champions after playing the same number of games since December 7.
Pep Guardiola’s side are now considered favourites to reclaim their crown despite only enjoying a one-point lead over the Anfield club at the league’s summit.
City could extend their advantage when they entertain Watford on Saturday, just 24 hours before their closest challengers welcome Burnley to Anfield.
But Klopp sees no problems with Liverpool’s current secondary position in battle for top spot ahead of the midday encounter with the Clarets this weekend.
He said: “We don’t have to change really because we never thought about it, what the other teams are doing.
“The plan is clear, we have to win football games. It’s difficult enough. I think City play on Saturday so we will know the result before we start our game.
“There’s no reason to make a big fuss of it. It’s like it is. We are in a position we like to be, we liked the position before. it’s not a problem.
“We always said that we wanted to be in a position to fight for the top spot in the league and we are still in [the race].
“That’s all we need to be positive, to be optimistic, to be excited in a very posiitve way about the challenge.
“But our only problem this weekend is Burnley. We have to be really good to beat that team because what Sean Dyche is doing there is just amazing.”
The Liverpool manager also believes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is in the ‘right moment’ to return to competitive action with the club’s under-23 side on Friday.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is due to make his long-awaited comeback in the PL2 fixture with Derby County, barely 11 months since he was sidelined by a knee injury.
“Ox is a very smart boy so it was clear that he needs some sessions to prepare himself for a game,” said Klopp.
“He wanted [to play] these games as well so I would say maybe these games, we will see. This game (against Derby) for sure.
“Everything is how I said already a couple of times. It looks very positive but it was a long time he was out so we all need to be sensible and do the right thing in the right moment.
“We all think it’s now the right moment. Derby, a good opponent. On Monday night we had our derby against Everton with the U23s.
“I watched that game live in the stadium so it would have been okay, absolutely, but I was not sure about the intensity and if it was the right thing to choose that game for the first time.
“But now he’s ready and we let him start. We are all excited about that of course.”