Jürgen Klopp's tunnel vision approach is integral to Liverpool's Premier League title pursuit

On Tuesday morning, Jürgen Klopp was questioned at his pre-Leicester City press conference at Melwood about the present state of the Premier League title race and Liverpool's upcoming FA Cup third-round tie against Everton on 5 January.

In recent days, others managers have had plenty to say about both of these topics. Pep Guardiola, following Manchester City's 3-1 win over Leicester, described any hopes of his side catching up with Liverpool as "unrealistic"

And whether these were another attempt at mind games (the Spaniard also recently claimed his side couldn't compete with Europe's best sides any longer), or simply his genuine belief that City are already too far off the pace set by Liverpool, it was hardly a message that inspired belief, or a single-minded determination to haul themselves back into contention.it

Meanwhile, Everton's new manager, Carlo Ancelotti, spoke about the "motivation" of trying to beat Liverpool at Anfield on 5 January, a feat they haven't managed since 1999.

When Klopp was asked about both these issues, though, the message was emphatic.

He said: "I couldn't be further away from the FA Cup, I cannot really think about it."

And on the matter of the Premier League title race, he continued: "People in this part of the world can talk about what they want. We are not fussed by things that aren't over.

"We are not here because we haven't taken each game 100 per cent seriously. We are pretty good at shutting doors around us.

He was absolutely right to shut down both topics rather than delving into any discussion on either. The fact of the matter is, Liverpool have three league games of huge significance against Leicester, Wolves and Sheffield United up next, which means that right now, the Everton game is a complete irrelevance to the main task at hand (not that Klopp will likely even go full strength in the FA Cup, regardless).

A fundamental factor in why Liverpool are in their current position – 10 points clear at the top with a game in hand – is because their tunnel-vision approach has enabled them to focus entirely on each individual game as it comes, never looking beyond the next set of three points

It would be easy to get sucked into all the external noise about the 'pressure' of ending Liverpool's 30-year wait for the title, or the fact that only Liverpool have been top at Christmas and not won the Premier League (three times), but none of that matters to Klopp or his team.

They know their job is to put everything into beating Leicester on Boxing Day, after which the focus then shifts to doing exactly the same against Wolves. And then Sheffield United. And then the next one.

That's Liverpool's route home this season, by blocking out everything else other than that which they can immediately control. It's the mentality which has got them to this stage, and it will remain crucial all the way through to the finishing line.