Arsenal and Liverpool may be set to do battle on Saturday lunchtime but their players appear entirely relaxed ahead of the game.
Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge were among those having a good time during their training session at Melwood with Brendan Rodgers happy to dish out advice whenever he saw it necessary.
As for Arsenal, Jack Wilshere was back with a smile on his face as he prepares to make his return from injury, and the likes of Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny were happy to share a joke.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Rodgers and Wenger preview Saturday's big clash
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Sharing a joke: Liverpool striker Luis Suarez in high spirits during training on Friday
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Relaxed: Daniel Sturridge was also full of smiles ahead of Liverpool's crunch game with Arsenal
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Midfield partnership? Both Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky have recovered from their recent injuries
Liverpool boss Rodgers is relying on home comforts to break a barren spell against Arsenal and ultimately secure Champions League football.
The Reds have not beaten Saturday's visitors at Anfield in the league since March 2007 but if that run is to change this would be the ideal season for it.
Fourth-placed Liverpool have lost just once in the last 18 home matches and scored the same number of league goals at Anfield - 33 - as they did in the whole of last season at home.
They have dropped just five points in 12 matches at Anfield, winning 10 times, and are three league places and 12 points better off than the same stage last season.
'Our home form has been brilliant and that is vitally important for any team, especially a team who wants to be challenging at the top of the table,' said Rodgers.
'We are going to go into each game looking to win the game. There is a greater confidence now.
'I certainly sensed (last season) there was maybe that little bit of fear of playing at Anfield because of the result.'
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Splits: Sturridge will be hoping he doesn't have to stretch quite as much in Saturday's game
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Advice: Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers chats with youngster Jordan Ibe (right) during training
Liverpool cannot afford to allow their standards to slip - the first sign being in the 2-0 defeat at the Emirates in November - but Rodgers believes his side's form this season has prompted their rivals to raise their game against them.
'We are a team, because of how we work, who get the best out of opponents because they have to be at their best to play us,' added the Reds boss.
'But you can be in a really good spell and then go into a game and not be quite at your best, it happens in football.
'Our confidence wasn't so good (at the Emirates) and you have to give credit to Arsenal, who played well in that game.
'Certainly from then we have been very good with some outstanding performances and some okay which have not quite got the results.
'We played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and lost 2-1 and that was supposedly the best they had played all season.
'The game last week, there were a number of reasons why we weren't at our best but we still looked like we could get a result.'
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Good mood: Suarez appears confident that he will be able to score against the side that tried to sign him
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Up close and personal: Mesut Ozil and Kieran Gibbs clash during their session
Arsenal striker Giroud is convinced his side have the mental strength to hold their nerve and prove themselves genuine challengers through the most testing of fixtures.
The Gunners head to Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime and then host Manchester United next Wednesday night, before Brendan Rodgers' side come back to the Emirates Stadium in an FA Cup fifth-round tie on February 16.
That is followed by a Champions League visit to north London by holders Bayern Munich.
Despite many pundits confidently predicting Arsene Wenger's squad would come off the rails sooner rather than later, Arsenal remain top of the Barclays Premier League, a point ahead of Manchester City who were beaten 1-0 at home by Chelsea on Monday night.
Giroud is in no doubt his men have what it takes to last the distance through to May.
'We have to show people that we want to answer (our critics) on the pitch and nothing more,' the France international told Arsenal Player.
'That is the most important (thing) for us, the reality of the pitch. After that, if people don't think we can finish first it is not my problem, but I know we have a good chance to win the league.'
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Having fun: Mathieu Flamini (left) lifted off his feet while Laurent Koscielny (right) photo-bombs a picture
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Raring to go: Arsenal's German contingent looked fairly relaxed at their Colney training ground
England midfielder Jack Wilshere should be available again at Anfield following an ankle problem.
Gunners boss Wenger firmly believes his squad possess the character needed to pull through such a demanding schedule which could well shape the final outcome of their season.
Gunners boss Wenger firmly believes his squad possess the character needed to pull through such a demanding schedule which could well shape the final outcome of their season.
'It is a good moment for us to win a big game because we have a tough predicted month,' Wenger said.
'At the moment I think we are on a good run and the best way is to continue that to keep the confidence level high and of course to stay in a strong position in the Premier League.'
Wenger continued: 'Mentally we are prepared for that (run) and we have shown a great response throughout the season when we had difficulties, and physically we are prepared as well.
'We want to convince people that we have the quality and we want to be up there in every single game, and win every single game we play.'
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Preparation: Olivier Giroud manages a couple of keepy-uppies while Arsene Wenger has words with Wilshere
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho may have talked down his own side's championship ambitions despite their dogged win at Manchester City - claiming they were the 'little horse' left in the title race - but Wenger insists no definitive conclusions can be reached for several weeks yet, given how tight it is as the summit.
'I said you have to wait until the end of February to have the exact idea of who will fight for the Premier League,' Wenger added.
'It is an important month for many teams and maybe you will need a bit of patience.'
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All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find yet more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings. Follow @WhoScored on Twitter.
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