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With a derby against Manchester United on Sunday and transfer deadline day on Monday, the next few days promise to be frantic ones for Liverpool and the club's fans. However, Steven Gerrard is confident as Liverpool head into what seems likely to be a pivotal few days when it comes to determining the club's chances this season.
"For a long time," said Gerrard, "the gap between ourselves and United, Chelsea and now Manchester City has been too big. Each year we have been trying to close that gap, so really this season isn't any different in that respect.
"But it does feel slightly different this year. The team spirit is really good and there is a belief within the squad. The changes the manager has made during the summer are really positive and hopefully there are still one or two more players to come in."
Players like Simon Mignolet and the unfortunately injured Kolo Toure have already made a positive impact since arriving at Anfield, while Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto will be hopeful the coming months confirm they made the right choice in leaving Spain for England.
Fans, though, have been hoping for at least two more signings before the window closes, with most focusing on the need for a goal scoring wide attacker and a centre half who can improve the starting eleven. And it appears as though Gerrard is thinking is along the same lines.
If Liverpool does make a few key signings before the window closes, it's unlikely they would be available to face United, leaving it to the players on hand to face off against the club's rivals and new manager David Moyes. Even without new signings, though, Gerrard is confident for the weekend.
"We know it's going to be a very tough match," he said. "I think they'll come here and probably look to play on the counter-attack again, but we're at home and have got to take the game to them. Our tails are up. We have won three games in a row, even if with the third one we did it the difficult way
"Confidence is still high, even if the injury situation is not ideal going into such a big game, but we have got a squad that can cope. We didn't get what we deserved from the big games last year. To try and improve on that this season, we have to put in the same effort but learn to start turning draws into maximum points."
Gerrard is also looking forward to the chance to face United a second time in September after the two sides drew against each other in the third round of the League Cup, with the captain adding: "It doesn't get any tougher, but it doesn't get any more exciting, either. We shouldn't fear going to Old Trafford and playing them in the cup, we should be looking forward to it and relishing it."