Jurgen Klopp says reaching the knockout stage of the Champions League would represent "major progress" for Liverpool as they prepare for an "all or nothing" clash with Spartak Moscow.
Liverpool currently lead Group E by one point but require at least a point against Spartak at Anfield on Wednesday to be certain of progress to the knockout stage.
"It is a proper final, all or nothing," he said. "We know about the situation. They know the situation. It is Champions League. It is always important but the last game of the group stage is most important if you have to play for something, which we obviously have.
"It is exciting. All or nothing means you can either win or you lose. We know we can draw but this information is only useful after the game. We cannot play for that and we do not want to."
While Liverpool would have already secured their place had they not thrown away a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Sevilla last month, Klopp said reaching the next round would still represent a significant achievement for the five-time European champions.
This is only Liverpool's third Champions League campaign since they reached the quarterfinals in 2008-09, having exited at the group stage under Rafa Benitez in 2009-10 and Brendan Rodgers in 2014-15.
"It would be major progress," he said. "I am not sure exactly when Liverpool last reached the knockout. Eight years? A long time.
"You only play the group stage as Liverpool to come through to the last 16. We all know if we do then we have a chance to reach the next round but first we have to make it. It is a tight group. We had some influence on that. We played good games and had good results but not enough points to go through already and now we have to finish the job."
Meanwhile, captain Jordan Henderson has used his programme notes to also relay the importance of Tuesday night's tie, saying it is similar to Liverpool's Champions League playoff with Hoffenheim at the start of the campaign.
Although a draw would secure qualification to the round of 16, a win would over the Russian champions guarantee Liverpool top spot.
"We are top of the group, our destiny is in our own hands, we're at home and we haven't lost in the competition yet, despite facing really strong teams," he said.
"But we also know if we lose tonight the most likely outcome is we won't qualify. This gives this match a cup final feel to it and we have to have that mentality.
"We have to treat this game -- players, staff and supporters -- as the most important of the season.
"In some respects we've had this experience quite recently. Against Hoffenheim we came to Anfield with an expectation to finish the job.
"I've been remembering this week how we approached that second leg. We treated it like it was starting 0-0 and that an entire season's work rested on us getting the job done.
"That attitude -- in the dressing room, on the pitch and in the stands -- is what we'll all look to replicate against Spartak."
ESPN FC's Liverpool correspondent, Glenn Price, contributed to this report.