ASSISTANT manager Jason Tindall has dismissed Liverpool’s faltering fortunes ahead of Cherries’ League Cup red-letter day and insisted they were still an “incredible side”.

Shortly after securing a 2-0 FA Cup fourth-round success in January, Liverpool embarked on an 11-match winning sequence in the Premier League but went on to surrender English football’s ultimate prize during the final three matches of last season.

Since then, the Reds have struggled to contend with the sale of talismanic striker Luis Suarez and have laboured in their efforts to make an impact on this season’s frontrunners.

In contrast, Cherries, who also enjoyed a fruitful second half to 2013-14, have continued their upward trend, establishing themselves firmly among the Championship’s promotion contenders.

But despite Cherries seemingly reducing the chasm in class, Eddie Howe’s right-hand man warned that the Anfield giants would still prove a formidable force in next week’s mouth-watering League Cup quarter-final at Dean Court.

Tindall told the Daily Echo: “It has been almost a year since the last game and the team has made tremendous progress since then.

“Liverpool did incredibly well to go right to the wire in the race for the Premier League last season and you cannot do that unless you have a top-class squad and manager in place.

“There has been a bit of talk about them being on a bad run at the moment but they still have a terrific side and we have an incredibly tough task ahead of us.

“We have to make sure we get the maximum from everyone because if we do not, they will punish us and go through. We must be well equipped and work as hard as we have to reach this stage to give them a really good game.

“If we do that, we will give ourselves a chance and who knows what might happen? The rewards will be fantastic for the winners so it is all about getting out there, doing what we do best and seizing the moment.

“The game is on Sky and it is a great platform for the boys to go and perform. If we are not at our best we will get beaten, there are no two ways about it so, like every game, our preparation must be spot on.”