Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet says the Reds are aware of the threat posed by Everton forward Romelu Lukaku but insists his side are ready for the challenge.

Mignolet is a team-mate of Lukaku's with the Belgium national side and admits he will look to use that to his advantage this weekend.

"With Romelu, Kevin [Mirallas] and also Divock [Origi], there has been some back-and-forth," Mignolet told Sky Sports News HQ.

"When you spend 10 days together with them in the same hotel and you know you are playing the Merseyside derby afterwards, especially as a 'keeper facing them, it gives you a bit of insight and information, but the same goes for them.

"I think it is nice to play against them but it's much more about the club getting three points.

"Lukaku is in a good moment and we will have to deal with him. We have to prepare ourselves for that but it's Liverpool against Everton, not us against Lukaku.

"He has all the ability he needs to be a very good player in the Premier League. He has strength, finishing and he is very important for Everton.

"He can do as much as he wants to do in his whole career, we just have to try and keep him quiet this Saturday."

And Mignolet says the advice from Jurgen Klopp has been to treat the Merseyside derby as any other game.

"That's the big message, to not do anything differently," Mignolet added.

"We as football players have to stay focused. We have to do our professional job and that's playing football.

"Of course there's much more at stake than the three points. There is bragging rights but when it's kick-off time we will step onto the pitch and we have to see it as our job.

"We have to do the things we always do and put in the best performance we can to get the three points. That's the only thing we can think about, not anything else that might get you flustered or thinking about something different."