If Liverpool had any doubts over what to expect when they step out at Ibrox this evening, they were surely banished long before a combative Jurgen Klopp took his seat during a prickly pre-match probing on Tuesday evening.
Earlier in the afternoon, it had been Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst and midfielder John Lundstram holding court deep within the bowels of the stadium when a prevalent theme of questioning from the local media throng soon indicated the Reds should brace themselves for a barrage tonight.
"At Ibrox you have to get up against people and get the crowd going and try to instil a bit of fear in the opposition," says Lundstram. "You have to show the opposition respect to a certain extent but at the same time show them no respect as well. Just try and get in among it.
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"A lot of players can be great players when they have a lot of time on the ball, but if you get in someone's face then things change. As long as we are laying a glove on them, hopefully we can get something."
While there was precious little threat - physical or otherwise - from Rangers during Liverpool's comfortable 2-0 triumph in last week's Anfield meeting between the teams, the Scottish Premiership side were holding group leaders Napoli to a goalless draw at Ibrox last month until a red card for James Sands and a succession of penalties saw them lose 3-0.
It's clear, then, much will depend on which side can cope best with the anticipated white-hot atmosphere in front of more than 50,000 supporters.
"We want to start on the front foot at home," says Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst. "We need the same approach and performance (as Napoli) but also keep 11 men on. An essential part of our game is also mentally, we have to be strong in every moment we face and make sure we stay with 11 men, that's for sure. Playing with 10 men in Europe is very hard."
Bristling at a question prompted by comments from old adversary Dietmar Hamann and irked by the growing realisation Liverpool had genuine reason to feel aggrieved at key officiating decisions in Sunday's controversial 3-2 loss at Premier League leaders Arsenal, Klopp was in feisty form as he addressed the anticipated Ibrox roar.
"It is completely different with the atmosphere," says the Reds boss. "How often did we mention the power of Anfield? I’m pretty sure it is similar here when they have big European nights or big league games. Football is about momentum. We know it will be a tricky game.
"Andy Robertson doesn't have to (warn me). I watched enough Old Firms on the television but when both fans were allowed in it was incredible atmosphere-wise. Is the atmosphere always like this where you switch the light on and it's like this? That's special."
With Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joel Matip all injured, it will be a much-changed Liverpool that starts at Ibrox compared to last week. Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate are likely to step in at right-back and centre-back respectively, while Roberto Firmino and Harvey Elliott are leading contenders to replace Diaz with Diogo Jota moving to the left flank.
Klopp may also choose to recall Fabinho into the midfield - regardless of whether or not the Reds stick with the 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 approach - with Liverpool mindful of minutes played by Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson in the engine room ahead of Sunday's visit of champions Manchester City. James Milner is another option.
One player, though, almost certain to start is Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan, having been denied a goal last week by a fine performance from Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor, netted for the Reds for the first time in two months against Arsenal at the weekend and is benefiting from a run of games after a fitful start to his Liverpool career.
And Klopp adds: "Of course it’s very important he’s fit and confident. He had a lot of good moments against Rangers, some moments unplayable, but there were big goalie saves. Now he’s got the goal (against Arsenal) and he was really hard working for that. That was positive, for sure."
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