Monday 30 November 2015 23:31, UK
Liverpool vice-captain James Milner is confident the players can handle the growing expectations surrounding the team since Jurgen Klopp became manager.
Milner scored from the penalty spot as the Reds secured their sixth win in seven matches with a 1-0 victory over Swansea at Anfield on Sunday.
The result lifted Liverpool to sixth place, six points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, just three days after a 2-1 win over Bordeaux saw them advance to the last 32 of the Europa League.
That positive run has encouraged talk not only of a top-four finish but also of the title itself and Milner admits the club is going through an exciting spell at the moment.
"I think it is a talented squad of players, we have a great mix of youth and experience and obviously a new manager, the stadium is being upgraded as well so I think it is a great time to be involved at the club," he said.
"It is exciting times for everyone, if we keep working hard, keep improving, keep doing our job then hopefully we can be successful.
"We just want to keep improving, playing as well as we can and getting the wins on the board.
"Hopefully [we can] get into January and February and still be in all the cup competitions and give ourselves a shot in one of the cups, see where we are in the league and assess it from there.
"It was important to get the win after Thursday night and last week [a 4-1 win at Manchester City] as well.
"These are the sort of games you have to win as well and it is very pleasing that we showed we can do that.
"Every game is different and you have to be able to win in different games and different styles.
"It is not always going to be pretty football and pretty much how you want it to go to plan. To be able to grind out that win was really important.
"Hopefully we can keep this form going through Christmas and keep racking the wins up and if we can do that, I think we will be in a good place."
The return from injury of captain Jordan Henderson and striker Daniel Sturridge as second-half substitutes against Swansea offered a further boost to Klopp.
They add much-needed quality to the squad ahead of a busy festive period that precedes a double-header against Arsenal and Manchester United in mid-January.
"It is massive. They are two top players and any team in the league would miss them, it is great they are back," Milner said of the return of Henderson and Sturridge.
"To challenge and get where we want to be you are going to need a squad of players.
"It is always a crucial period. The league table always looks so much different at the beginning-to-mid-January than at the start of December.
"You see suspensions and injuries taking hold and teams losing and gaining form.
"It is a great time to be in form going into this Christmas period and hopefully we can keep it going."
Watch Liverpool's next two matches on Sky Sports. They face Southampton in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night, with coverage beginning on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 5 at 7pm.
Klopp's side then face Newcastle in the Premier League as part of Super Sunday - coverage starts at 3:30pm on Sky Sports 1.
