KLOPP SAYS QUADRUPLE QUEST TAKING TOLL ON LIVERPOOL TEAM
▶ Merseysiders take on Southampton needing a win to keep Premier League title hopes alive
Jurgen Klopp says that Liverpool’s relentless fixture schedule as they chase a historic quadruple is taking its toll on his team.
The Merseyside club take on Southampton in the Premier League tonight having just won the FA Cup following a draining penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea at Wembley three days ago.
Liverpool are currently second in the table, four points behind Manchester City having played a game fewer than Pep Guardiola’s team.
The match at St Mary’s Stadium will be their 61st of an intense campaign that will come to an end on May 28 when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
“They are pretty much sleeping on their massage beds,” Klopp said of his players ahead of the game on the south coast. “It’s better to moan and argue when you’ve won, but why did they think the best day for our game was Tuesday?”
“Nobody thought we could have had an extra day’s rest and play on the Thursday? We’re going there with eight players who played 120 minutes so we will have to make changes – I just do not know how many.
“All the same, I can’t wait to play the game. I’m really excited about it and we will go with all we have to make it happen.”
While Liverpool are playing so soon after 120 intense minutes against Chelsea, Southampton will have had 10 days since their last game and are known for their high-energy, heavy-pressing style of play under Ralph Hasenhuttl.
“They’ll be completely fresh,” Klopp said. “We cannot go there, fall into this game and go, ‘What’s going on here?’ Southampton are a really welldrilled team, full of energy … and playing their last home game of the season.” There has been no decision made on whether the injuries Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk picked up during the cup final win will rule them out of the Saints match.
“This process is not finished yet,” added Klopp. “We played 120 minutes only two days ago. The boys only arrived today [Monday] and we have to make a lot of decisions. But what I can promise, definitely, is we will line up to try to win the game at Southampton. We have a job to do and we have to see who is able to help.”
City’s draw at West Ham on Sunday means that Liverpool can move back to within a point of the leaders heading into the final game if they beat Saints.
For Sunday’s season finale, City are at home to Aston Villa while Liverpool entertain Wolves at Anfield.
Klopp said: “I am really looking forward to the game tomorrow. Is it a big chance? I wouldn’t say so because I don’t know when City last dropped points two games in a row.
“I don’t expect City to drop points but that has no influence on our game tomorrow. In an ideal world we’ll go into the last match one point behind.”
Meanwhile, Hasenhuttl believes that securing the Premier League title is an even more difficult challenge than winning the Champions League.
“We all know Jurgen and how strong he is and you can be sure that he doesn’t give up the chance of winning the league,” said the German, whose team have taken four points off Manchester City this season.
“This is still the title that is the most countable for everybody because it’s the hardest to get. For me it’s even harder to be consistently on the top over 38 games in the Premier League than to win the Champions League sometimes.
“Even if he [Klopp] says it’s tough for him to go for all four, I know he will do everything to win this game on Tuesday to give himself a chance on the last day. “I think it is fantastic for the Premier League to have such a close title race. Everybody is electrified from this battle and we are now part of this duel.”
Hasenhuttl again came in for criticism from his own supporters at the weekend after losing 3-0 at Brentford – Southampton’s seventh defeat in 10 league games.
But his team defeated topfour chasing Arsenal last month at St Mary’s and have also taken home points against Manchester United, Tottenham and City.
“This is maybe the most difficult one at home,” said Hasenhuttl, whose team lost 4-0 at Anfield earlier in the season. We have shown against the top teams that we can achieve something very big – and this is what we will need on Tuesday evening.
“They [the players] know what team we are facing, they know how tough it is, they know what run of form they are on.
“It’s our Champions League final, if you want. And we are going for this with everything we have and the team that is on the pitch is the team that will do everything to make them proud.”
Southampton are a really well-drilled team, full of energy. They’ll be completely fresh
JURGEN KLOPP
Liverpool manager