Liverpool know they must maintain a hugely impressive record in games that follow a big European night if they are to continue their interest in the FA Barclaycard Premiership title race.
Caretaker-boss Phil Thompson takes the Anfield men to Fulham on Saturday knowing there must be no hangover from the tiring and frustrating trip to Istanbul for the midweek Champions League draw with Galatasaray.
The Reds have done well post-Europe so far this term. After 12 previous European matches this season, Liverpool have won 10 times in their next game, drawing one against Everton and losing just once - at Bolton in August just a few days after lifting the European Super Cup in Monte Carlo.
Plenty of other sides have complained and struggled after European battles, but, so far, not Liverpool.
And, when you consider that twice they have had to face Manchester United directly after a European match and won both games, it is testimony to their character and commitment.
Thompson, who is hoping to have Jerzy Dudek back after his groin problem - a decision will be made after early morning training - is delighted with the way the Reds have played after European matches.
He said: "Our form so far after a European game has been outstanding. A lot of teams have fallen into the trap of having a poor performance after a game in Europe.
"We've looked at it and tried to be positive and not thought about tiredness or whether we played well or not. We must look at the next one.
"The results have been impressive but we must continue that and do it again."
He added: "We have made a point of trying to work on the players after European games.
"We have tried to work on the positive side and we've been trying to get inside their minds and make sure we don't suffer a reaction after a European game because we've had four hours on a plane and we get home tired."
Liverpool will still be without Steven Gerrard at Fulham as he receives further treatment for his groin injury.
Gerrard travelled to France this week for one of his regular check-ups while his colleagues were in Istanbul.
The England youngster is still around 10 days away from a return, and the trip to Barcelona on March 13 is his target.
Nicolas Anelka, cup-tied in Europe, will return to the squad after scoring his first Premiership goal for Liverpool in their drawn Merseyside derby with Everton last Saturday, and youngster Chris Kirkland will continue in goal if Dudek is not considered 100% ready for a return.
Jamie Carragher is out again as he continues his domestic suspension, while Liverpool may considering shuffling their pack with the vital league clash with Newcastle next Wednesday and the Champions League trip to Barcelona a week later.
Jari Litmanen could well get a run-out as well as Anelka at Fulham, where Thompson will insist on the beginning of the "final push" towards glory for this season.
He said: "Now is the time to get our heads down and push on, the final push. We will give it our best shot and it's important now that we are focused and concentrate.
"We have maintained our performance level. You only have to look at Leeds and I know how David O'Leary must feel because that's how I felt a few weeks ago when results weren't going right.
"But now it's down to us. We must now push on. It's great for this club that we are able to say we are going for two trophies again and it's March.
"We are going to give it one hell of a go to make it happen and we have a good chance."
He added: "It's the same as last season. We had so many games on all fronts people kept doubting we could do it because of the pile-up of fixtures.
"We'd already got one cup in the bank and we were going for another two as well as getting into the Champions League. People were writing us off and saying we couldn't do it.
"But we did it, that's the quality of this club and the players here. We believe we can do it.
"This is the vital time for us. The belief in the squad is that we can give everybody a run for their money."