Jurgen Klopp says that Liverpool's relentless fixture schedule as they chase a historic quadruple is taking its toll on his team.
Liverpool take on Southampton in the Premier League on Tuesday having just won the FA Cup following a draining penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea at Wembley Stadium three days earlier.
The Merseyside club are currently second in the table, four points behind Manchester City having played a game less than Pep Guardiola's team.
Tuesday's 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 played 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 is playing barely three days after 120 intense minutes against Chelsea, Southampton will have had 10 days since its most recent game and is known for its 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 is a really well-drilled 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.
Liverpool beat Chelsea in FA Cup final: player ratings
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CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy - 8. The 30-year-old had to be quick off the line to cut out danger. He was secure and showed off his shot-stopping qualities, especially in saving from Mane in the shootout. Reuters -
Trevoh Chalobah - 6. The 22-year-old was tormented by Diaz but grew into the game as the defence adjusted. There were times he looked tentative and vulnerable to crosses. Azpilicueta came on for him for the second period of extra time. AP -
Thiago Silva - 7. The 37-year-old was composed at the centre of defence but most of the trouble came down the flanks. He was a calming presence apart from the odd moment of wayward distribution. AFP -
Antonio Rudiger - 8. The German’s side of the pitch was more secure in the first period and he handled Salah well until the Egyptian’s departure. He was robust in the tackle and showed off his pace when chasing Mane down in extra time. AP -
Reece James - 7. The 22-year-old needed to be more restrained after Liverpool’s early barrage but began to range forward as the game went on. He balanced attacking and coping with Diaz well. Scored in the penalty shootout. AFP -
Jorginho - 7. The Italian could not get to grips with Liverpool’s speed of passing but became more influential when Chelsea squeezed the space between midfield and defence. Scored in the shootout. PA -
Mateo Kovacic - 6. The Croat was chasing shadows early on but eased into the match. By the time he was withdrawn in the 66th minute for Kante, he had helped Chelsea restore parity in the midfield. EPA -
Marcos Alonso - 8. The Spaniard’s first touch let him down when he had a chance to score in the first half and he shot wide in the opening moments of the second. Minutes later he hit the bar from a free kick. Scored the first penalty in the shootout. AP -
Mason Mount - 7. It took a while for the 23-year-old to get going but he sent in a cross to Pulisic from which the American should have scored. The longer the game went on, the more space he found. Alisson saved his penalty in the shootout. Reuters -
Christian Pulisic - 7. The American screwed a first-half chance wide and then played in Alonso, who wasted the opportunity. He might have done better when shooting straight at Alisson in the second half and when he shot past the post. Loftus-Cheek replaced him for the final 15 minutes. Reuters -
Romelu Lukaku - 6. The Belgian was starved of supply for much of the match and ran the channels powerfully without much reward. He made way for Ziyech with six minutes remaining. Reuters -
SUBS: N’Golo Kante (Kovacic 66') - 7. The Frenchman gave a typically effective performance, snuffing out danger, winning the ball and finding a teammate. AP -
Hakim Ziyech (Lukaku 85') - 6. The Moroccan was muscled to the floor by Konate when making a dangerous run. Scored in the shootout. AP -
Cesar Azpilicueta (Chalobah 105') - 6. The Spaniard brought his experience to the game and was solid. He hit the post in the penalty shootout. Getty -
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Pulisic 105') - 7. The 26-year-old joined the game for the second half of extra time at Pulisic’s expense. He gave his team width and sent in two crosses but was surprisingly substituted for Barkley with two minutes left. PA -
Ross Barkley (Loftus-Cheek 120') - 6 The 28-year-old came on with the game on the verge of penalties. He despatched his spot-kick in style. Reuters -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 8. The Brazilian was a spectator until he was injured making a stop from Alonso approaching the half hour. After that he made a series of good saves and rarely looked uncomfortable. His shootout save from Mount gave Liverpool the chance to win the cup. AP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8. The 23-year-old’s sumptuous ball to Diaz with the outside of his foot showed his class. He found Robertson at the back post but the Scot could not control the ball. His defending was sharp during Chelsea’s good spells and he made three vital interceptions. Scored in the shootout. Reuters -
Ibrahima Konate - 7. The Frenchman showed his strength against Lukaku. His distribution was sometimes poor but his positional play was effective. AP -
Virgil van Dijk - 7. The Dutchman was involved in a physical battle with Lukaku and did not give an inch. He tried to spark attacks with long balls from deep but went off injured at the start of extra time and was replaced by Matip. AP -
Andrew Robertson - 7. The Scot got up in support of Diaz. Mount got in behind him on one occasion but his defending was generally good. He was surprised to find himself open in front of goal from an Alexander-Arnold cross and then hit the post from a Milner centre. Tsimikas replaced him with nine minutes to go. EPA -
Naby Keita - 7. The Guinean pressed with gusto and used the ball cleverly. He also tried to get forward to help the attack. Milner came on for him with 16 minutes to go. AP -
Jordan Henderson - 7. The captain sat deep to replace Fabinho and ensured Liverpool were on top for most of the first half. He did the hard work in midfield and still found time to get forward. Reuters -
Thiago Alcantara - 7. The 31-year-old got a grip on the central areas and was sharp in the tackle. He nearly got on the end of a Daiz cross. His penalty in the shootout was scored with characteristic style. EPA -
Mohamed Salah - 5. The Egyptian saw little of the ball even though Liverpool piled on early pressure before he went down with a groin injury. He was replaced by Jota in the 33rd minute. EPA -
Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese worked tirelessly to create space for those around him. Few chances came his way but his movement was excellent. He missed a potentially shootout-winning penalty. AP -
Luis Diaz - 8. The Colombian tormented the defence from the start and could have scored or set up three early goals. He shot just wide three times in the second period and made way for Firmino in the 98th minute. AFP -
SUBS: Diogo Jota (Salah 33') - 7. The Portuguese flicked a chance over the bar before half time and fired wide after the break. Slammed in an powerful penalty in the shootout. AFP -
James Milner (Keita 74') - 7. The 36-year-old immediately made his presence felt with a robust challenge on James and a marvellous cross to Robertson. Scored in the shootout with an unstoppable penalty. Reuters -
Joel Matip (Van Dijk 90') - 7. The 30-year-old's fresh legs came in useful when he was quick to a ball in the area that Pulisic looked set to get to first. AP -
Roberto Firmino (Diaz 98') - 7. The Brazilian dropped deeper in an effort to get on the ball and scored in the shootout after a stuttering run. EPA -
Kosta Tsimikas (Robertson 111') - 8. The Greek was calm and impressive at both ends of the pitch. His penalty won the shootout and the cup for Liverpool. Reuters
“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 within a point of the leaders heading into the final game if they beat Saints. On 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 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 for winning the league, for sure,” said the German, whose team have taken four points off Manchester City this season.
Liverpool 4 Southampton 0: player ratings
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Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7: The 23-year-old got up and down the line at will and sparked a series of attacks. He was involved in the build-up to two of the goals. AFP -
Ibrahima Konate - 6: The Frenchman looked nervous in the windy conditions but got better as the game went on. He produced a sliding block to stop an effort from Armstrong. PA -
Virgil van Dijk - 7: The Dutchman cruised through the match and was never unduly worried. He dispatched his goal with the aplomb of a striker. AFP -
Andrew Robertson - 9: The Scot was on top form and caused havoc down the left. His excellent cross created the opening goal and that set the tone for his performance. Reuters -
Thiago Alcantara - 8: The 30-year-old was guilty of an early lapse when he was caught in possession on the edge of his own box but he recovered, passed beautifully and scored the third goal. EPA -
Mohamed Salah - 7: There was no goal for the Egyptian but he treated the defence with contempt. He curled a shot wide and might have scored when clean through but he radiated class. AFP -
Diogo Jota - 8: The Portuguese scored twice and could have had a couple more. He menaced the defence. AP -
Sadio Mane - 7: The Senegalese caused trouble for Southampton right from the start. He played a significant part in creating the opening goal and threatened throughout. PA -
SUBS: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - (On for Thiago 59') 7: The 28-year-old sent a barrage of crosses into the area. He popped up in scoring positions but his best opportunity went straight at the goalkeeper. AFP -
James Milner - (On for Henderson 67') 7: The 35-year-old put in his usual solid, somewhat abrasive, performance. AP -
:Takumi Minamino - (On for Jota 81') N/A. The Japanese went looking for the ball and maintained the intensity in the midfield. AP -
Lyanco - 3: The Brazilian kept getting sucked upfield following Jota. It left acres of room behind for the Liverpool attackers to run into. He was more secure when the team switched to a back four after half-time. EPA -
Jan Bednarek - 2: The Pole struggled with the pace and movement of the front three. He was given a yellow card for a studs-up challenge on Mane and made way for Redmond at half-time. AFP -
Mohammed Salisu - 4: The Ghanaian was not strong enough nor quick enough to deal with Salah. He chased the ball before the second goal and left space for Liverpool to exploit. PA -
Tino Livramento - 2: The 22-year-old was bamboozled by Liverpool’s passing for the opening goal. He never recovered and Robertson and Mane tormented him all afternoon. EPA -
Oriol Romeu - 3: The Spaniard was always a step or two behind the opposition midfield and offered little creativity. He was careless in possession should have done more to prevent Van Dijk scoring. Reuters -
Romain Perraud - 3: The Frenchman was swamped by Salah, Henderson and Alexander-Arnold. He was replaced with two minutes left but it was a surprise he lasted that long. PA -
Che Adams - 4: The 25-year-old showed for the ball and dropped deep in an attempt to help the midfield. It meant he had little impact up front. He was replaced at half time. AP -
SUBS: Nathan Redmond - (On for Bednarek 46') 3: The 27-year old entered the game after half time but did little of note in his 45 minutes on the pitch. PA -
Nathan Tella - (On for Adams 46') 6: Provided an injection of energy for the side. He produced a dangerous late cross that none of his team-mates attacked. AFP -
Kyle Walker-Peters - (On for Perraud 88') N/A. AFP
“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 over 38 games in the Premier League consistently on the top 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 under 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 top-four 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, who 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 on what run of form they are.
“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.”
