Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has said that the club's impressive pre-season will hold them in good stead ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

The Reds won six of their seven friendlies, conceding just two goals along the way, and the Brazilian midfielder feels that the form showed during the off-season will help when the competitive games get underway.

"We know it's still pre-season and we are still getting our fitness level better, but it's always important to win games," Lucas told the club's official website.

"Then when the competition starts you have a lot of positives to take and confidence to start the season.

"In the last few years, we didn't have the best start - that is probably what cost us during the season. We have difficult games to play but if we start well, it can give you confidence to keep going during the season - until January is always the key."

The Reds' only defeat in pre-season came when they were beaten 1-0 by Celtic last Saturday.