Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has insisted that his side are relishing the pressure that will be on their shoulders on the final day of the Premier League season.
The Reds welcome relegated Middlesbrough to Anfield on Sunday knowing that anything other than a win would open the door for Arsenal to steal in and secure a top-four finish ahead of Jurgen Klopp's men.
However, Lallana is confident that the team will step up to the plate and thrive under the pressure of a must-win game, even if it takes them time to break their visitors down.
"Of course there's pressure but there have been a lot of high pressure games this season where we've really stepped up to the mark. Arsenal at home on the back of losing at Leicester and Tottenham at home after losing to Hull. There was big pressure and the lads responded with two big performances," he told the Liverpool Echo.
"There was huge pressure at West Ham last weekend, especially after the other results the day before. But what I liked was that there was a real calmness around the group. We showed great professionalism with the way we approached it. There was the right balance in terms of being up for the game but not getting carried away and I've felt the same this week. We know the job this weekend and we trust ourselves to do it.
"It's important we don't get restless if a goal doesn't come in the first 15 to 20 minutes. At West Ham we didn't get the breakthrough until 35 minutes. We need to trust our ability. The supporters know their job. They aren't stupid, we don't need to build them up for the weekend. They know there's a lot riding on it. I'm sure they'll stay patient like we have to as players. The support they have given us home and away throughout the season has been outstanding. They have driven us on and we'll need them again on Sunday. We want to do it for them.
"It would be a great achievement when you consider the teams that have been going for those places this season. We could hit 76 points, which is a big improvement on last year. The dynamic of the Premier League now is completely different to say five years ago. Leicester City winning the title, Tottenham having two fantastic seasons, plus on top of that you've got Chelsea, Arsenal, City and United. I'd say the Premier League this season has been as competitive as it's ever been. That makes getting into the top four all the more challenging."
Liverpool are bidding to secure Champions League qualification for just the second time in the last eight years.
Barney Corkhill
