Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders admits tactical changes at the start of the season have them well placed for the Double.

Following their victory over Southampton on Friday the Reds sit two points clear at the top of the table with five of their league matches remaining, although City have a game in hand. Jurgen Klopp's side will also welcome Porto to Anfield in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.

“We decided in pre-season we have to work to have a better movement of the ball and the positioning of our midfielders, plus Roberto [Firmino], Sadio [Mane] and Mo [Salah]," he told The Times.

“Focus on speedy attacks and you go fast towards being a successful team, but you have to focus on really good organisation.

“If you want good counter-pressing then having shorter distances between the players is important. So, if you lose the ball to the opposition, you can give a very intense moment to win the ball back.

“If the distances in midfield are quite wide, then it is difficult to put pressure on [when you have lost the ball].

“If the distances are close [when you are attacking] and they play with each other, then the way the ball moves can create surprise and space for when the opposition reacts.

“Play inside to create wing attacks, wing attacks are a byproduct of good inside play.

“The first way of defending is how you move the ball when you have it. [The key is] how quick you do that so that you make the opposition passive.

“If they don't have the ball, they don't attack, so you don't have to defend."