For Simon Mignolet and Liverpool, there could not be a greater contrast heading into this clash with Manchester United than the one in December.
Three months ago, Liverpool had just been knocked out of the Champions League and were ninth in the Premier League.
Mignolet had suffered a shaky few months in goal and had just been told by manager Brendan Rodgers that he had been dropped.
They lost the match at Old Trafford 3-0 but that was the low point.
Since then, Liverpool have picked up 33 points out of a possible 39 and would overtake United in the top four with victory at Anfield this lunchtime.
Mignolet was out of the team for a fortnight before an injury to Brad Jones gave him the opening he needed.
The Belgian has been far more reassured behind the rejigged three-man defence and has kept six consecutive away clean sheets in the League, equalling a 43-year-old club record.
He wouldn’t have admitted it at the time but Mignolet now understands that his spell out of the firing line might have been a blessing.
“That period gave me a chance to reflect on my game,” he says. “You don’t really have the chance to do that when you are playing two games a week.
“You are going from one game, recovery, analysing the last performance and preparing for the next one.
“The moment the gaffer took me into his office the day before the Manchester United game to say I wasn’t playing, I told myself I could do two things let my head drop or be positive and make sure the period on the sidelines was as short as possible.
“I started training the day after and I made sure I was ready for when the opportunity came up.
“Then the Burnley game came along. I kept a clean sheet and since then I can’t be disappointed with how I have been performing.”
Every mistake or misjudgment was analysed and the Reds’ No.1 had to face some stinging criticism from Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar.
But the Belgian accepts it comes with the territory. And having begun his career at Sint Truiden back home, knows where he wants to perform.
“When I was younger, I wanted to play in the big games in front of big crowds in the big stadiums,” he admits.
“I remember when I was younger, playing in the Second Division in Belgium in front of tiny crowds.
“It might be easier in terms of pressure but, believe me, I prefer to play in front of a full Anfield against Manchester United.
“That’s why you want to be a footballer.”
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