Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer insists "there's no such thing as a friendly" as the Premier League club prepare to face Sydney FC.
A travel weary Liverpool will take on the A-League champions at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night, with the Reds having only arrived in Australia the morning of the game.
Jurgen Klopp's side, who will be augmented by ex-Liverpool stars Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Steve McManaman for the friendly, only completed their Premier League campaign on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Middlesbrough.
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But while the addition of Gerrard and Co. and Liverpool's late arrival has some critics questioning the seriousness of the match, McAteer argued it will be competitive.
"Even when we play Legends games, we start of the game and it's really nice… and as soon as you get into it, you know, that passion of winning takes over," he said.
McAteer added that Gerrard and the other ex-players "won't want to get beat" in a rare Liverpool return.