As Xabi Alonso leant back in his chair and rubbed his new beard, he did not look like a man feeling the heat.
And he insists he and his Liverpool team-mates are not cracking under the pressure of the title race.
Sir Alex Ferguson claims the Reds will be nervous as they watch Manchester United gobble up their Premier League lead.
They certainly looked jittery at Stoke, where they dropped two more points in another costly draw.
Alonso accepts these are uncharted waters for Rafa Benitez's side and admits they lack the title-winning experience of United and Chelsea.
But the stylish midfielder, who has been the stand-out performer in Liverpool's title tilt, says they will not wilt.
"There is pressure on us and you can expect that because we've not won the title for so many years," he said.
"Whenever we don't win a game, it's easy for people to say it's because we are feeling the pressure. It's an easy way for people to say why we didn't beat teams like Stoke.
"But the truth is you are facing good teams every week in the Premier League and you can't win every game.
"We don't think about what other people are saying about us and we are just staying calm. It's a fact that we don't have the experience of the other teams, but we are learning from what is happening this season.
"We know we can't afford to drop points, especially at home. But Chelsea are going to drop points, Manchester United are going to drop points, all the teams are going to drop points.
"We know if we do well, like we did at Newcastle, people say we can win the title and then if we draw the next game, they say we can't cope with the pressure.
"It's important for us not to lose focus, keep as calm as possible and only think about the next game."
Alonso, 27, can see how desperate Liverpool fans are to end their 19-year wait to be champions and stop United equalling their record of 18 titles.
The Spaniard is just as keen to get his hands on the Premier League trophy, but says the players must avoid burdening themselves with this emotional baggage.
"You can feel the desire from the fans to win and I have not won a title since I was 11, playing for my local team in San Sebastian," said Alonso, who is back in full training after injuring his foot at Preston.
"You can feel the weight of this desire from the fans when you are playing, but you have to avoid putting more pressure on yourself otherwise you will lose focus. We have to be professional and only think about the next game."
The next game is Monday's must-win Merseyside derby against Everton and Alonso knows their Stanley Park neighbours will be pumped up to stop them at Anfield.
Alonso relishes the derby and will renew a rivalry dating back to his childhood when he faces Everton's Mikel Arteta.
The two Basques grew up an Alonso free-kick from each other in San Sebastian and played for the Antiguoko youth side.
Alonso has already begun the mickey-taking by texting his old pal and hopes to be reaching for his mobile again on Monday.
"In San Sebastian we have a nice tradition of playing matches on the beach and I remember winning when our school played his school," he said.
"We never thought then that one of us would play for Liverpool and the other for Everton in the same city.
"It's a nice story and we have been texting each other, making jokes.
"I texted him when he scored his good free-kick against Hull and said Pepe Reina would have saved it and that Pepe will be ready for him.
"He texted back saying we will see who has the last laugh on Monday."
And he insists he and his Liverpool team-mates are not cracking under the pressure of the title race.
Sir Alex Ferguson claims the Reds will be nervous as they watch Manchester United gobble up their Premier League lead.
They certainly looked jittery at Stoke, where they dropped two more points in another costly draw.
Alonso accepts these are uncharted waters for Rafa Benitez's side and admits they lack the title-winning experience of United and Chelsea.
But the stylish midfielder, who has been the stand-out performer in Liverpool's title tilt, says they will not wilt.
"There is pressure on us and you can expect that because we've not won the title for so many years," he said.
"Whenever we don't win a game, it's easy for people to say it's because we are feeling the pressure. It's an easy way for people to say why we didn't beat teams like Stoke.
"But the truth is you are facing good teams every week in the Premier League and you can't win every game.
"We don't think about what other people are saying about us and we are just staying calm. It's a fact that we don't have the experience of the other teams, but we are learning from what is happening this season.
"We know we can't afford to drop points, especially at home. But Chelsea are going to drop points, Manchester United are going to drop points, all the teams are going to drop points.
"We know if we do well, like we did at Newcastle, people say we can win the title and then if we draw the next game, they say we can't cope with the pressure.
"It's important for us not to lose focus, keep as calm as possible and only think about the next game."
Alonso, 27, can see how desperate Liverpool fans are to end their 19-year wait to be champions and stop United equalling their record of 18 titles.
The Spaniard is just as keen to get his hands on the Premier League trophy, but says the players must avoid burdening themselves with this emotional baggage.
"You can feel the desire from the fans to win and I have not won a title since I was 11, playing for my local team in San Sebastian," said Alonso, who is back in full training after injuring his foot at Preston.
"You can feel the weight of this desire from the fans when you are playing, but you have to avoid putting more pressure on yourself otherwise you will lose focus. We have to be professional and only think about the next game."
The next game is Monday's must-win Merseyside derby against Everton and Alonso knows their Stanley Park neighbours will be pumped up to stop them at Anfield.
Alonso relishes the derby and will renew a rivalry dating back to his childhood when he faces Everton's Mikel Arteta.
The two Basques grew up an Alonso free-kick from each other in San Sebastian and played for the Antiguoko youth side.
Alonso has already begun the mickey-taking by texting his old pal and hopes to be reaching for his mobile again on Monday.
"In San Sebastian we have a nice tradition of playing matches on the beach and I remember winning when our school played his school," he said.
"We never thought then that one of us would play for Liverpool and the other for Everton in the same city.
"It's a nice story and we have been texting each other, making jokes.
"I texted him when he scored his good free-kick against Hull and said Pepe Reina would have saved it and that Pepe will be ready for him.
"He texted back saying we will see who has the last laugh on Monday."
I hope when the little un' is old enough they will be fully versed in the ways of Partridge?
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