Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists he is not regarding Saturday's Community Shield against Arsenal as a friendly.
The curtain-raiser to the new season comes just five weeks after the Premier League champions wrapped up their 2019-20 campaign and they have been back in training for just a fortnight.
Klopp said: "I'd be surprised if we played our best game of the season - but it's not a friendly, it's a proper match against Arsenal."
"Would I want to play a proper game after two weeks' preparation? No. But we've known about it for a while.
"We don't have friendlies, we have testing games. It's a competition and it's rare you have perfect time to prepare for a game.
"We have had two weeks' training and worked really hard."
Virgil Van Dijk will be fit to play despite suffering a head wound in Tuesday's 2-2 friendly draw with Salzburg but Trent Alexander-Arnold may not feature due to a minor injury.
Klopp said: "Trent (is) very close but we have to make a decision. Virgil is fine."
There will be less space between games in the condensed league season ahead, which is due to start on 12 September.
"It took a while until we got any schedule but since we've known it we've accepted it 100 per cent," said Klopp.
"For us, like Arsenal, we prepare for a whole season - one of the most intense, probably, we have ever experienced in our lives because of the amount of games and the time we have for that.
"It's as perfect as we can be and we will try everything to win the game and Arsenal will do the same.
Klopp added that he is stating facts and not complaining as the world continues to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said: "It will be intense but nobody is moaning. We are happy we can play at all.
"Time is still uncertain for all of us, not only in football. The situation is not sorted so we should not feel like it is. We have to show responsibility for a lot of people in the world."
Klopp laughed off a suggestion Liverpool could sign Lionel Messi - but would like to see him in the Premier League.
Messi has rocked the footballing world by handing in a transfer request at Barcelona, sparking huge speculation over his future.
Klopp says he would happily take the six-time world player of the year, but concedes the Premier League champions are simply not in the market for the 33-year-old.
The Liverpool manager said: "Interest? Who doesn't want to have Messi in their team? But, no chance."
Liverpool's title rivals Manchester City are considered to be among the favourites to sign Messi should he leave the Nou Camp.
A move to the Etihad Stadium would reunite Messi with his former Barca boss Pep Guardiola, under whom he won two Champions League crowns in 2009 and 2011.
City might hold further appeal in that chairman Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain are also well known to Messi from their time at the Catalan club.
In addition, there may also be a desire to link up with his friend and long-time Argentina team-mate Sergio Aguero.
Klopp said: "It would obviously help Manchester City and make it even more difficult to beat them, which was already very difficult.
"For the Premier League it would be great, 100 per cent, having the best player in the world in the league.
"The numbers are not for us. We don't have to start thinking about it. No chance, but, good player to be honest!"
"I'm not sure the Premier League needs a boost but it would be a boost, for sure.
"It would be interesting to see as well. Messi never played in another league, other than Spain. Actually, I would like to see it - but I'm not sure I will."
