Liverpool v Newcastle United: Klopp keeps pushing for improvement

Jurgen Klopp is adamant Liverpool are not on top of their game yet, while Vurnon Anita wants Newcastle United to build on recent results.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp recognises his team still have room for improvement as they prepare to host Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.

The German has overseen a marked upturn in form in the past couple of months as Liverpool have climbed into top-six contention, losing just one of their last nine top-flight matches.

Their previous three home games in all competitions have yielded 12 goals, with Merseyside rivals Everton thrashed 4-0 on Wednesday.

Yet Klopp feels there is more to come from his side, who are also through to the semi-finals of the Europa League.

"We are not only a pressing and counter-pressing team, we are a possession team too and it's a challenge to bring it all together. We will still work on it, it is not finished," he said.

"With the consistency now, we have been together longer, we have worked together. Now we are here with 54 points, that's not too bad with still 15 to get.

"Consistency comes with working together. I know in football the last thing everybody wants to do is wait for something, but it's the only way I know."

Klopp will have to make do without the services of Divock Origi (ankle), Martin Skrtel (groin), Emre Can (ankle), Jordan Henderson (knee), Christian Benteke (knee), Danny Ings (knee) and Joe Gomez (knee) due to injury.

Newcastle, meanwhile, will be hoping to build on their recent win over Swansea City and draw with Manchester City when they travel to a particularly unhappy hunting ground.

Not since the maiden Premier League season have Newcastle returned from Anfield with a win, a run of 20 league matches without success.

Rafael Benitez's men are firmly entrenched in a relegation battle, trailling 17th-placed Norwich City by two points with four games remaining.

Vurnon Anita was impressed with the displays in the last two matches and wants more of the same.

"It's an away game and we need to show we can do it away as well, with the same intensity and the fighting spirit," the Dutchman told nufcTV. 

"We just need to keep on going. We're not there yet, we know that. We need to take it step by step, game by game, and work hard like the last two games and it will come for us.

"We know that in the position we're in, we need to fight and we need to do it together and I think we showed it against City on Tuesday.

"I think it was a good team performance and we need to keep on going. The most important thing is to recover again and go for the game on Saturday."

Newcastle are still without injured goalkeepers Tim Krul and Rob Elliott (both knee), while Massadio Haidara (knee), Daryl Janmaat (groin) and Steven Taylor (muscular problem) are all unlikely to feature, too.

Key Opta Stats:

- Daniel Sturridge has netted six goals in six Premier League starts against Newcastle United.
- Newcastle have won just three of their last 30 Premier League away matches, losing the last nine in a row.
- James Milner has recorded 11 assists in 2016 in all competitions, three more than any other Premier League player.
- Newcastle have seen six players sent off in their last seven Premier League games against Liverpool and four in the last three trips to Anfield.
- Liverpool have won 17 and lost none of their last 20 Premier League matches against Newcastle at Anfield.

Sturridge: I'll help Origi and Can through mental rollercoaster injuries

The striker has suffered serious injuries over the years and is willing to help his team-mates as they look to deal with the physical and mental stress of being out of action

Injury-plagued Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge says he will be on hand to support Divock Origi, Emre Can and Jordan Henderson during their road back to fitness.

Sturridge is well acquainted with the frustration of being out of action after suffering problems throughout his career, including recurring hamstring issues and a long-running hip complaint.

His fellow striker Origi is expected to miss the rest of the season after sustaining suspected ankle ligament damage in the derby victory over Everton on Wednesday.

Emre Can is also out with an ankle ligament problem, while Jordan Henderson must try to recover from a knee injury in time to feature at Euro 2016.

And Sturridge is set to offer the trio his insight into coping with the psychological challenges they face during their rehabilitation.

"I always speak to the players who have had injuries," he said.

"I've had to deal with them and it is a mental rollercoaster having to deal with them, so I always try to give them a boost because there can be low points when you are injured and you feel alone and not part of things.

"Hopefully they all recover fast. Henderson, Emre, Divock have all done exceptional this season, so hopefully they will all be back before the end of the season."

Scans on Thursday cleared Origi of a suspected broken ankle following a heavy challenge from Ramiro Funes Mori, with manager Jurgen Klopp due to give an update on the Belgium international's situation at his media conference ahead of Liverpool's Premier League match at home to Newcastle on Saturday.