Liverpool fullback Andrew Robertson says they need to step the intensity over the Christmas programme.
Robertson believes the typically busy festive period can often make or break a team's ambitions and after coming through with flying colours on the other side of Stanley Park in midweek, he called on the Liverpool squad to crank up the pressure on Chelsea and Manchester City above them.
"Look, we've all been in the game long enough, we've all played for this club long enough and we've been competing for trophies for long enough that we understand the standards that are required to win every football match," Robertson told the Liverpool Echo.
"The beauty of the Premier League is that there are no easy games and I think straight away after the derby, it's a very quick turnaround.
"The thinking now is all about the next game and then one after that and the one after that.
"It's such a small gap that you've got in terms of trying to get ready.
"We need to be at our best [in this period]. We're the chasing pack and we're still behind Man City and still behind Chelsea.
"Chelsea and City both managed to win their games in midweek, as tight as they were, and we're still behind. So we need to keep pushing and make sure that they know they need to win every single game.
"As long as we keep doing that then I believe we'll be there or thereabouts.
"We go game-to-game. As footballers we love playing games and don't get me wrong, it's testing!
"It's testing on the legs, testing on the mind and in the lead up to Christmas, everyone around you is trying to have a nice time and you have to stay focused.
"But look, it's a busy period, but also after this period, everyone in the Premier League will know where they are, whether that's a relegation fight, a battle for Europe or whether you're going for the Premier League title.
"Once you come through this period and you're in January, you know where you stand and where you want to be. We know where we want to be and that's within the pack that can win the league.
"We want to stick with them and obviously Chelsea and Man City are in good moments too. They are not looking like dropping points but if they do drop points, we need to be ready to capitalise.
"Hopefully they do that and we can make the most of it. If we do that, we'll be there or thereabouts at the end."
