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It's been a great week for Liverpool, one to put a smile on all our faces.

Beating Hoffenheim means we're where we want to be. When we finished second in 2014, we were all excited about the Champions League – but everything changed with the departure of Luis Suarez.

This year is going to be different. Philippe Coutinho won't be going to Barcelona, and both the team and squad looks a lot stronger. There's a real sense that we're progressing and can sustain our place in the top four, push in the Champions League, and that's what we want.

You want trophies too, of course, but this is important as well.

Confirming the Champions League is just huge. Footballers want to play at the best level they can and, when you watch this competition over the past few seasons, all you've wanted to do is play in it.

After some great results and performances, they made light work of Hoffenheim when a lot of teams would have struggled. It is just reward for last season's efforts, and it's time to look forward to be involved in the pinnacle of the game.

I think you can describe our draw as kind, although I thought that was the case in 2014 with Basel and Ludogorets, and we didn't get through.

Still, on paper, it looks a good draw. Spartak Moscow were one of the poorest sides in pot one, for starters. We know Sevilla will be a tough game, especially given our recent history with them when losing the Europa League final, but we're both different sides now.

So yes, it does look kind, but it's up to the players to deliver. It also depends on a few other things, such as whether we can field a full strength team, and how the squad handles the extra competition.

I must admit, I couldn't believe the grumbles over the defending. Okay, we conceded two – but we scored four. Football is about entertaining and winning, we did both, and there's no chance anybody can have a go at what they saw at Anfield.

As an attacking force we were a joy to watch, I left Anfield buzzing after that opening 20 minutes. Every time we pushed forward, we looked like we might score. Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah look dynamite out wide, and Salah could prove a real bargain given the prices being paid this summer.

You just have to accept we'll concede because of the quality we show going forward.

Having said that, it won't be like that every week, so we have to be prepared. We saw against Crystal Palace what can happen if a team decides to sit deep and defend. Thankfully, Hoffenheim decided to play their game, and we punished them.

Players deserve credit for ignoring distractions

After the entertainment of Wednesday night, we might be in line for some more this weekend.

Make no mistake, Arsenal are a side who will have a go at Anfield.

Alexis Sanchez looks he'll be back and Alexandre Lacazette is a threat. They're never a side who grind out results – I can recall them doing that once away from home against one of the 'bigger' sides in the past five years.

It doesn't happen often, that's for sure, and if both teams play open football, we're in for a treat. Both sides have good attacking players, and it's whoever has the better quality on the day – on the past two occasions, that's been us.

It's a big game in terms of shaping the landscape of the 'top six' – a win here puts them four points ahead of Arsenal already. The games against Arsenal proved pivotal last season and this won't be any different.

People say you have to beat the lower sides but it's taking points off the other top six sides which truly matter – it's what ensured Champions League football for Liverpool.

You have to give the players credit regardless. We've started the season with some real distractions – Coutinho, Virgil van Dijk, transfer speculation in general – but the lads have remained focused and got the job done, when it could have been an unsettling time for the squad.

With the international break around the corner, I can't see many changes. Klopp has options, of course, and the five changes he made against Crystal Palace worked well.

It can depend on who has recovered obviously – I thought we benefited from both Emre Can and Jordan Henderson looking fresh on Wednesday – but with no midweek game to concern us, I think we can just go out, play our strongest side and get the result.