The waiting is nearly over for Norwich City and Kenny McLean feels relieved to have pre-season out of the way, so that full focus can be locked on Liverpool.
The Scotland midfielder scored the only goal as City finished pre-season on a high with a 1-0 win over French top-flight side Toulouse at Carrow Road on Saturday, although the score-line should have been far more convincing for the hosts.
With seven friendly games and plenty of fitness work completed, McLean is looking forward to the big-match hype ahead of Friday's Premier League opener against the European champions.
"There's been a few injuries picked up through pre-season, it always happens, and now it's the exciting part of the season we're going into," said the Scot.
"The Liverpool game, which has been highly anticipated since the fixtures came out, everyone has been looking forward to. Now it's time to go and take part in this league, where we all want to be."
After being promoted as champions, an opener against Jurgen Klopp's exciting team is just the kind of challenge Daniel Farke's team had craved.
McLean continued: "We know the quality they've got and we'll analyse them through the week a bit more but I think we need to look after ourselves.
"There's going to be quality every week, whoever we play, but obviously Liverpool are right at the top. But that's what we've worked hard for, to be involved in these games and take part in these games.
"So I think we'll look after ourselves and leading up this game we'll analyse them and see if there are any weaknesses, if they've got any, and we'll take it from there."
MORE: City midfielder happy with Toulouse triumph in final friendly
The 8pm kick-off will be televised around the globe, with the Reds set for a homecoming of epic proportions, for their first home game since winning the Champions League.
"Looking back on last season, when those (big) games came around and that pressure was on, it brought the best out of us as a team - and I think that will be no different this season," McLean added.
"We start with one of the toughest games you could get on Friday, we're going to go and embrace it, enjoy the occasion, but we're not just there to take part, we're going to really try and put our stamp on it."
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