THE game - Klopp relishing magnitude of Spartak showdown

Jurgen Klopp described the Champions League meeting with Spartak Moscow on Wednesday as "the" game of Liverpool's season.

The Reds head into the clash at Anfield top of Group E, one point clear of Sevilla and three ahead of their visitors.

A win will guarantee qualification as group winners, while a draw will also be enough to seal their place in the knockouts but could see them leapfrogged by Sevilla.

A defeat, coupled with a Sevilla win at Maribor, will mean Klopp's men drop into the Europa League and having worked so hard to return to the continent's premier club competition, the German is eager to stay there.

When asked how important the fixture was to his club, Klopp replied: "The game. It's the game. It's a home game, and if we win we are through so that's cool.

"I'm really looking forward to it. They have important players back, so it will be an exciting game and that's how the Champions League should be.

"I don't want to make it bigger than it is but it's very big."

Liverpool face the prospect of a Merseyside derby on Sunday with Everton coming to Anfield, but Klopp insists focus cannot be drawn away from the task at hand.

"I don't think about Sunday already, we have enough time," Klopp said. "We will not hesitate to line up our best team. We will line up for this game and we cannot line up for the derby as well.

"I think the atmosphere can and should help us tomorrow, we all know how special this place can be and that's what I'm looking for.

"Thank God it's a little bit cold so everybody needs to move to keep warm! I'm really excited about the opportunity. You don't have guarantees in life, the only thing is if you don't try, you get nothing."