As is now standard for League Cup duties, Lijnders stepped in for Klopp, this time to preview Wednesday's visit from Fulham
Cup action has dominated the agenda at the Kirkby base in recent days given the visit from Marco Silva's men comes hot on the heels of Sunday's superb 2-0 victory over Arsenal
With Liverpool's 4-2 win over Newcastle United on New Year's Day opening up a three-point advantage at the Premier League's summit and a Europa League last-16 tie also to come in March, momentum is building for Liverpool
It is no surprise to hear Lijnders speaking in such effusive tones as he reflects on a summer period that saw Klopp's squad recalibrate as they looked to put behind them a largely miserable campaign
Such was the coach's determination to ensure the troubles were left at the door back in July, in fact, that he jokingly claimed anyone of a negative disposition would find themselves on the end of a right hook
Lijnders
"Everybody searches for new targets or young players have to step up, like Curtis (Jones), Trent (Alexander-Arnold) and Ibou (Ibrahima Konate). When young players feel they have to do more they feel more and more that it becomes their team,"
"That’s what you need. That energises everyone. If you see that they want to run at 8am – after a few talks – but they understand it and they go through really hard at times, I really believe that the difference is made on the training pitch.
"The attitude of the boys and the quality of the sessions – that combination makes a big difference.
"How do we stay positive? Winning helps. I don’t want to go on constantly about the new players because Curtis is a good example.
"He doesn’t get the credit he deserves, maybe because he comes from the academy,
"I don’t know. But if you see what he did to the team since the end of last season it’s as good as a new signing."
“The way you speak to each other after a game that didn’t go so well. How I said before, you do not want that negativity around. You are a product of your own environment.
"We six work together and if you had three or four negative guys, everyone would be negative. If you have positive guys the opposite. That is how the world works. It is important that I stay calm and give my honest view in a positive way. I can only speak for myself on that, but I always stay positive."
Lijnders adds:
“I felt that from last season already and the moment we started making the signings, and then when we started deciding the leadership group and the captain. When Virgil was captain I knew he needed that responsibility and would step up again.
"We needed him at his best for the way we play - with many times both full-backs jumping, stepping up and pressing.
"We needed him and Ibou, Joel (Matip), Jarell (Quansah) in a really good way. What does not often get seen is our centre-halves are playing much better with the ball.
"If you look at how close they play to the offence and how they are stepping in with the outside or inside pass - they are playing to a level we needed. They are making a big, big difference.”
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