Preparing to face the unbeaten league leaders at their home ground is challenging enough as it is.
So spare a thought for Chris Wilder and Sheffield United, whose training session ahead of their game with Liverpool was briefly disrupted when a dog urinated on one of their cones.
The Blades had been training at Stanley Park, which is in the shadow of Anfield, with the players getting ready for an activation session before they are surprised by a dog which came running along.
One of the team coaches initially bends down to beckon the dog after its arrival on the makeshift training pitch, before erupting into laughter after watching it lift its leg up and pee on one of the cones the players were about to dribble around.
The dog then trots off, with most of the squad left bemused. Sheffield United posted a video of the incident on Twitter, jokingly writing: 'Just trying to do an activation session in peace.'
Liverpool fans couldn't resist the opportunity to poke fun at their upcoming opponents.
One supporter joked: 'Serves you right for training in the local park', with another suggesting the Reds had sent the dog 'to sabotage the training session'.
Stanley Park is a public space which divides bitters rivals Liverpool and Everton, with Anfield and Goodison Park situated on either side.
It was originally where Everton played their home games in 1879 before the Toffees moved to Priory Road and then later on Anfield Road.
Liverpool had been considering using some of the park to build a new stadium, but the plans were scrapped, with the club opting to expand Anfield's capacity instead.