Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was pleased with what he saw from side in the 4-0 thrashing of Barcelona at Wembley on Saturday evening, but he refused to get carried away by the result.
The Reds took apart the Spanish giants in a preseason friendly as part of the International Champions Cup with an excellent performance in front of 89,845 spectators.
Strikes from Sadio Mane, Divock Origi, Marko Grujic and an own goal from ex-Red Javier Mascherano saw Liverpool run out convincing winners in their penultimate warm-up match of the summer.
While Klopp was encouraged by his side's showing, the German manager insisted that the Catalan outfit are a fair way behind his team in the summer schedule.
Liverpool kick off their Premier League season away at Arsenal next Sunday. Meanwhile, Luis Enrique's side have to wait until until Aug. 20 to begin the defence of their La Liga title.
"Barcelona was not bad, [they are] never bad," Klopp said at news conference after the game. "I think we did well around the goals. And in one or two situations we needed a little bit of luck to defend -- that's clear.
"Barcelona starts one week later in the season -- that's a difference in preseason always.
"Obviously, for us it was a more important game because 90,000 were here because of us, and maybe Messi, I would say.
"But they were here because of my team, so we had a little bit more pressure. Maybe we were a little bit more motivated. It's a friendly game, I know about it and I don't want to overestimate this game but it's still good for us.
"We didn't think before the game we are on level with Barca and we don't think after the game we are on a higher level with Barca.
"But the only job to do today was to play football as good as possible and we did it. I have no idea how good Barca can finally be, but I'm pretty sure better than today."
The Reds boss was unsure about the injury James Milner sustained in the game. The 30-year-old, who announced his retirement from international football on Friday, limped off after 42 minutes of action against Wembley.
Klopp said he will await the results of a scan and once again revealed he may be forced to dip into the transfer market if injuries within his squad continue to pile up.
"Milly doesn't look too good," Klopp admitted. "We have no real idea what it is -- something with the heel and we have to make a scan and then we will know more."
Daniel Sturridge's fitness ahead of next week's Premier League opener at Arsenal is also in doubt after the England striker was missing from the starting lineup at Wembley through injury.
Klopp added: "I'm happy with the squad but if something on the injury side happens then we need to react -- that's how it is.
"OK, in the moment we have a little bit more players than you can bring in the line-up and that's true, but we already have a few injuries in positions, which is not too good for us.
"So we have to keep our eyes open -- that's absolutely clear and we will do this. We have the possibility to react if we need to and that's what we will do, I'm pretty sure."