Javier Mascherano's motto for the week has been "Actions speak louder than words" as he contemplates his first visit to Old Trafford - and the task of keeping old pal Carlos Tevez quiet.
The Liverpool midfielder and the Manchester United striker have been close friends since arriving in the Premier League together at West Ham 18 months ago. But Mascherano revealed that there has been none of the usual banter with his Argentina team-mate over the last few days.
The Liverpool star said: "It is not Mascherano versus Tevez. "It's Liverpool versus Manchester United - and each of us is prepared to do whatever it takes to win.
"I haven't spoken to Carlos about the game much, because it has to be different when you play against someone who is a close friend.
"I will defend Liverpool with everything and Carlos will defend United with everything - friendship cannot come into your thinking.
"I'm not going out to kick Carlos, because I never go out to kick or hurt anyone when I play football. But I always want to win and I will not back out of anything either. When it comes to the game, I do what I have to do."
A seven-match winning run has seen Liverpool back at the fringe of the title race and into the last eight of the Champions League. Mascherano's form and Fernando Torres's goals have been a big factor in that change of form.
Mascherano said: "The team is progressing. New players have come in.
It has got to the point where other top players will want to come here just to play alongside Torres.
"Whatever happens this season, I believe I will win the title with Liverpool. That is the reason I came."
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JONATHAN PEARCE
ALEC STEWART
THE MOLE