SADIO MANE says Chelsea's lead in the Premier League title race cannot distract Liverpool from Monday's Merseyside derby.
Trips to Goodison Park are always occasions in their own right for the red half of the city and victory in the storied fixture is a cause for celebration, regardless of how either side is faring.
But Jurgen Klopp's side are genuine title challengers this season and know they cannot afford to slip too far short of Chelsea's mark over the busy festive period. Antonio Conte's side racked up their 11th win in-a-row at Crystal Palace on Saturday and three points against the Toffees would still leave Liverpool six points off the pace.
Mane is happy to focus on the opponents at hand though, allowing the bigger picture to take care of itself: "I think we have a bit of distance to Chelsea, but we all know what can happen in football," the Senegalese said.
"For us, the most important thing is not to think about where they are, it's to focus on ourselves and go game-by-game and try to win the games, until the end of the season. I think, in the Premier League, everything is quite the same, it [Everton] is a tough game, but why not? I think with the quality we have, we can beat every team in the league, so I don't know why we can't go there and win."
Liverpool started a run of five matches in 19 days with a handsome 3-0 win at Middlesbrough and meetings with Stoke, Manchester City and Sunderland follow hot on the heels of the derby.
Mane is in his third season of English football and is ready for the rigours of the calendar: "It's not easy, but I think everybody's used to doing it," he said.
"I think it's no problem for us, so everybody's excited and looking forward to this time, I think we can do it."
Like Mane, Roberto Firmino is slated for a big role on Monday. On face value, the slight Brazilian might not seem the kind of player who would flourish in a fixture that can be full-blooded to say the least, but he has no concerns about the physical side of the game.
"There is no fear at all," the 25-year-old said.
"Sometimes, people see you as skinny and then they think, 'Oh, he is not a strong player'. But what matters is what you feel and what you do inside the pitch. No matter how skinny you are, the important thing is how you think, psychologically. If you think you are strong, you are really strong and I class myself as a strong player. I'm not intimidated by powerful defenders.
"Maybe when you are younger, playing against huge centre-backs might cause some fear to you, but when you are an older player there is no more fear. You simply play as best you can and go about your work."
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Five talking points surrounding Monday's derby...
BLUE WOE
The form book is thrown out the window for derbies, or so the cliche goes. But however their respective seasons are panning out, the recent record between Liverpool and Everton has been remarkably one-sided.
It is six years since Everton last tasted victory and they have come out on top just once in the last 19 Premier League matches. They have, at least, been fairly successful in avoiding defeat - six of the last eight have been draws - but the most recent clash in April ended in a chastening 4-0 loss.
Roberto Martinez was sacked three weeks later and Everton fans will hope new manager Ronald Koeman has better luck than his predecessors.
DEFENSIVE FRAILTY
There have been plenty of high-scoring derbies in recent years and it would be no surprise if this is another, with both defences suspect. Koeman has not yet settled on his preferred central-defensive pairing, although his hand will be forced by captain Phil Jagielka's suspension.
Ramiro Funes Mori is set to partner Ashley Williams, who has had a difficult start to life at Goodison Park, but should have been buoyed by scoring the winner against Arsenal last Tuesday.
Liverpool's weakness at the back has cost them in recent games against Bournemouth and West Ham, although they did keep a clean sheet against Middlesbrough last Wednesday.
Jurgen Klopp confirmed Simon Mignolet will keep his place in goal after replacing Loris Karius at the Riverside and this should be a key test of the Belgian's confidence.
MORE LALLANA MAGIC?
Adam Lallana has been one of the key beneficiaries of Klopp's tenure at Anfield. The England man has made himself a hugely important cog in Liverpool's attack and addressed his major weakness, with nine goals already this season.
Three of those have come in the two games since he returned to the starting line-up following a groin injury. After netting early against West Ham, Lallana scored twice against Middlesbrough and set up the other goal for Divock Origi.
His form has softened the blow of Philippe Coutinho's absence and Everton will need to watch out.
ORIGI LOOKS FOR SIX-IN-SIX
Another man to step up in Coutinho's absence, and that of striker Daniel Sturridge, has been Origi. The Belgian's Liverpool career still feels very much in its fledgling stages, but five goals in as many games will do his chances of holding down a regular starting spot no harm at all.
Origi has the invaluable knack, for a striker, of being in the right place at the right time and has been reaping the rewards.
GOODISON ROAR
Goodison Park can be an uncomfortable place for Everton players and managers - just ask Martinez - but when the fans get behind their team, there are few more hostile grounds in England for opposing sides.
When Everton conceded early against Arsenal, they were staring at a sixth successive match without a win. But the fans stuck with their side, the players responded and the Gunners succumbed to the energy and passion of their opponents.
The roar that greeted Williams' late winner could surely have been heard across Stanley Park at Anfield and more of the same on Monday might just be the difference.
