Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo believes their strength in depth is bolstering the club's Premier League title bid as they prepare for a crucial trip to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
The Netherlands international came off the bench for the 19th time in 44 appearances to score his 14th goal in Thursday’s victory over Sheffield United.
This season Jurgen Klopp’s substitutes have been involved in 24 Premier League goals (12 goals, 12 assists) which equals Manchester City’s record from 2011-12, with Gakpo combining with fellow substitute Andy Robertson for the third goal against the Blades.
It has also contributed to Liverpool winning 26 points from losing positions and Gakpo, the team’s third-highest scorer this season, attributes that to the attitude within the squad.
"That’s what this team is all about. We have so much quality, and the manager can only start 11," he told the club’s website.
"Everybody is eager to perform well for himself, for the team and for the fans when they are coming on.
"At the beginning of the season everyone had the belief that, 'OK, I’m not starting today but when I come on, you never know what is going to happen, and if I put all of my energy out there then beautiful things can happen’."
With just eight league matches remaining the focus is getting sharper with every week but Gakpo said no-one was thinking ahead as that leads to scrambled thinking.
"Obviously we are aware of the situation but we just try to approach every game and stay calm," he added.
"Obviously your mind can go all over the place if you are thinking about the end of the season, but we just have to take it game by game.
"We are doing it pretty well at the moment and we just need to stay calm and stay focused."
The team return to Old Trafford on Sunday, where only three weeks ago they lost a pulsating FA Cup quarter-final 4-3 after Manchester United scored a winner in the final minute of extra time.
It was only the third domestic defeat of the campaign but losing to their arch-rivals, ending the hope of an unprecedented quadruple, was painful.
"Of course, we were very disappointed. Losing is never good. Especially the way we lost that day, it hurt for 24 hours after the game," said Gakpo’s international captain Virgil van Dijk.
"We have to do better against them. They started the game well, had the crowd behind them and that gave them a push. Conceding the goals was disappointing.
"We controlled the game but kept them alive. They made use of it in the best way possible. That’s credit to them but we are going there on Sunday to turn it around and make sure we get the three points.
"We want to win every game and that’s the focus anyway at Liverpool. We know how much this match means and how big it is for the outside world but we are in a phase where we can’t drop points and lose points.
"It never matters what happened the game before results-wise. It is on its own. We have one goal: go there and try to win the game, we will give everything."
Erik ten Hag has urged his Manchester United players to "bring big games over the line."
United have dropped five points from winning positions in their last two games, with the most recent missed opportunity coming against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
Cole Palmer scored twice deep in second half added-time as the Blues stole all three points in a dramatic 4-3 victory over ten Hag's outfit.
Mason Mount thought he had found the winner with his strike in the sixth minute of stoppage time against Brentford, but Kristoffer Ajer equalised three minutes later in a 1-1 draw last Saturday at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Ten Hag admitted his side need to start getting over the line when leading games, seeking inspiration from previous victories over the league’s best.
"We can play to a very high standard. We can compete with the best and beat the best in the Premier League and when you can do that, you can also do it across Europe," he said.
"We need to learn how to bring big games over the line, Saturday was an example.
"We have to step up, make better decisions individually and as a team."
Thursday’s defeat in west London ended an unbeaten Premier League run against Chelsea which started in 2017.
Ten Hag wants his players to use the defeat as fuel going into their clash against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
He added: "We will see on Sunday (how to beat Liverpool).
"But I have to say first I have to deal with this, but we can’t deal with this long. We have to recover very quick. We have to turn this around.
"We will be in a positive mood. We will be looking forward. We have to take energy but we will be mad, angry. From anger you can take a lot of energy and that is how we have to do it."
Marcus Rashford came off the bench at Stamford Bridge, but failed to have an impact on the night.
Ten Hag revealed the forward is as motivated as ever to help the team.
He said: "I think lately his form is progressing and so the time will always be right. I think he has a big motivation because he wants to be successful with us.
"He wants to score goals, but he wants to win trophies and contribute and we still have a chance in the FA Cup.
"He wants to fight for a Champions League spot and the Euros are coming so I will say his motivation should be high.
"And the form, that is a moment and he can change the momentum always. Before Brentford, he scored three goals in three games."
