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Gini Wijnaldum has urged Liverpool to reproduce their Champions League heroics when they face Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.

The Premier League leaders are a massive 16 points better off than Jose Mourinho's sixth-placed side but the Dutch midfielder is the wary of the threat they pose to the Reds' title hopes.

Liverpool haven't beaten United at home in the Premier League since 2013 and Wijnaldum insists they will need to be at their sparkling best to put that right.

“It's a nice game and we'll try to put in the same performance that we did against Napoli,” he said.

“Things can happen, everyone can have a bad season. I think the year before I came Liverpool finished eighth so those things can happen. That does not mean United are not a good team with good players.

“Last season with the same players they finished second. One season goes well, one season a little bit more difficult.

“It doesn't mean they have a bad team: they have good players, a good manager, and they know how to manage games and win games – or not to lose games. It is going to be difficult.”

Jurgen Klopp will make changes for the visit of United. Dejan Lovren will replace the injured Joel Matip, while James Milner may have to deputise at right-back again with Trent Alexander-Arnold a doubt with a foot problem.

Fabinho and Naby Keita could provide fresh legs in midfield as Liverpool look to extend the best start to a league season in their history. This is a period that's certain to test the depth of Klopp's squad to the limit.

“That is important this season,” Wijnaldum said.

“Everyone has stepped up, everyone has different qualities. We try to bring them together and be as strong as possible. I hope it works until the end of the season and hope we can do big things.”

The Netherlands international admits his team-mates were grateful for the brilliance of Alisson Becker at Anfield on Tuesday night.

(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Liverpool wasted a stack of chances to kill off Napoli and had to survive a nervy final few minutes when the Brazil No 1 made a vital save to deny Arkadiusz Milik.

Wijnaldum said: “That's why he's a goalkeeper! It was a really good save to take us to the last 16.

“He did it almost every match, someone is through on goal and you think they are going to score and then Ali is there to make a save.

“He has helped us a lot and I hope he can perform like this until the end of the season and continue making important saves for us.

“He already gave us confidence he is a good goalkeeper. It is always difficult to stop balls, for example the one against Everton if that one had gone in no-one would have blamed him but he saved it.

“Against Napoli also it was difficult to stop that ball but he managed to stop it and we are happy so of course it gives confidence.

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“We have a lot of clean sheets and the saves he makes are really crucial, the moment he makes the saves and how he makes the saves wins us games.

“For every club to go to the next round and stay in the Champions League means a lot. You could see how disappointed Napoli were: they only lost one game in the group compared to us, we lost three and we went through.

“Every team prefers to play in the Champions League and we are really happy we are through to the next round.”

(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Top of the Premier League and in the last 16 of the Champions League, Klopp's side have momentum on their side. However, Wijnaldum says nobody is getting carried away.

“We know we have to do a lot to not lose games and even more to win it,” he added.

“We know we have to give a good performance every week to continue the run we are in. I don't really think we are invincible and if we think that we have a manager who would put both feet on the ground.”