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Cape Town - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confidence in his players' ability to deal with pressure against Hoffenheim in the second leg of their Champions League play-off.
The Reds host the German side at Anfield on Wednesday night with a 2-1 lead thanks to the win in the first leg last week.
Klopp acknowledges that there will be immense pressure in the game, considering entrance to the Champions League is awaiting the winners, but believes his players have what it takes to deal with it.
"Tonight is important for us; there is no escaping that and I wouldn't for one second want to pretend otherwise.
"It is important because it presents opportunity and it is an opportunity we have all earned through hard work and endeavour. The same is true of Hoffenheim, by the way," Klopp wrote in 'This is Anfield', as quoted by the club's official website.
"I'm reminded of the final few weeks of last season, when we were all fighting so hard to make sure we finished in the top four of the Premier League to give us the chance for evenings such as this in European football.
"During those weeks, if not most of the season, the talk was of 'pressure' - the pressure of making it; the pressure of not making it; the pressure of being in a good position and not finishing the job.
"Yes, there was pressure, and yes, there is pressure tonight. But it is positive pressure. These players have shown that they have what it takes to absorb the pressure and produce."
Kick off is at 20:45 (SA time).
