Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says his team are preparing for Tuesday's clash with RB Salzburg as if the match is a final.

Klopp's Reds must not lose to the Austrian side if they want to advance to the Champions League knockout stages.

"It's not that I expect us to go through. I expect us to play the best game we can play," he said at Monday's pre-match news conference.

"Salzburg were very happy that they won against Genk last time out and that we draw against Napoli, so they have a final against us. Napoli were happy because they know they only have to play Genk.

"We are prepared for that. Salzburg have to win against Liverpool. It's possible and I like that. We are still ambitious like crazy, we will run for our lives. It's not that we come here and think we have to dominate Salzburg.

"We have to focus on the next game. It's tough because we play every three days. Tomorrow night is the most important game in our life because there is no other one."

Liverpool conceded three times in the reverse meeting with Salzburg at Anfield in October - a thrilling 4-3 home win - with highly-rated teenage striker Erling Haaland among the visitors' scorers.

On keeping clean sheets, Klopp added: "Keeping clean sheets is not really important for the game tomorrow.

"Conceding goals happens. We defend well, I think.

"We didn't defend so well against Salzburg in the first leg. They are a team that surprisingly makes a lot of goals out of counter-attacks. We know their strengths very well and we hope that we can eliminate these strong points."