Mohamed Salah insists Liverpool remain 'optimistic' about the prospect of the team sealing a historic quadruple this season.
The Premier League campaign reaches a climax on Sunday with Liverpool knowing they must beat Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield and hope Manchester City do not win at home to Aston Villa if they want to beat Pep Guardiola's team to the title.
They have already won the League Cup and FA Cup – both via penalty shoot-out wins over Chelsea – and take on Real Madrid in the Champions League final next weekend.
“I wish City lose or draw, and we can win the league,” Salah told beIN Sports on Friday.
“We talk to each other [as a team], and everyone is excited. This situation happened two years ago, and they won the league. We are all optimistic, and this is what is in your hands – you must win your match, and then you see what happens.”
Liverpool face record 13-times European champions Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Paris next Saturday and Salah raised eyebrows when he posted on social media that they “have a score to settle” with the Spanish giants.
Salah left the field in tears in the final four years ago after a heavy fall under a challenge by Sergio Ramos, with Real going on to win the game 3-1.
“When [I said] I wish we could face Real Madrid, this was as if I said something wrong about them,” Salah added.
“I am talking about the strongest team in Champions League history, and I said that because of what happened before.
“The match will be difficult, and this team has won almost against all the strong teams. [But] I am very excited about the final and I hope we can win it.”
Meanwhile, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has said he has banished all thoughts of a dramatic finish to the season that sees the Reds take the title with a little help from former captain Steven Gerrard, who now manages City's opponents Villa on Sunday.
The Premier League was the only winner's medal missing from former England midfielder Gerrard's illustrious career at Anfield.
And while Klopp joked Friday he would have liked to see Gerrard still on the pitch, the German insisted he had not given much thought to all of Sunday's possible scenarios.
“I can understand these kind of situations only by thinking myself in that role,” he said.
“If I would play a game and could help [Borussia] Dortmund or Mainz that would be, for me, an extra motivation – but I don't play.
Southampton 1 Liverpool 2: player ratings
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SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Alex McCarthy – 5. The 32-year-old was playing his first game this year and looked rusty. He should have done better at the near post for the equaliser but had no chance for the winning goal. Reuters -
Kyle Walker-Peters – 5. The 25-year-old did well going forward and was largely secure in defence. He was very slow to react for Matip’s goal, a moment that spoiled his performance. AFP -
Lyanco – 6. The Brazilian was robust in the tackle and good in the air but his distribution was poor. His challenge on Jota started the move that led to Redmond’s goal. Getty -
Jack Stephens – 5. The 28-year-old was physical and strong but his lack of composure on the ball let him down. He should have been quicker to close down Minamino for the equalizer. Getty -
Mohammed Salisu – 5. The Ghanaian tried to give his team width when they had the ball and tuck back in when Liverpool had possession. This led to him being caught in no-man’s land before Minamino’s equaliser and missing a cross that he should have cut out. AP -
Nathan Redmond – 7. The 28-year-old scored an excellent goal but his withdrawn role meant he did not get forward often enough. He did what was asked of him but he could have been used more positively. AP -
Mohamed Elyounoussi – 3. The 27-year-old was peripheral until his dreadful attempted clearance sent the ball in Matip’s direction for the winning goal. It was not a display he will remember fondly. Reuters -
James Ward-Prowse – 5. The 27-year-old sat too deep to have much impact on the game. His defensive work was to the fore but that did not play to his strengths. Getty -
Ibrahima Diallo – 4. The Frenchman looked nervous from the start and was an easy victim for the Liverpool press. He was replaced by Romeu in the 71st minute. Getty -
Nathan Tella – 5. The 22-year-old showed some promise when he linked with Redmond for the opening goal but he drifted out of the game in the second half. Armstrong came on for him in the 71st minute. Getty -
Armando Broja – 6. It was a frustrating night for the 20-year-old, who took up potentially interesting positions but did not receive much service. He made way for Adams with eight minutes to go. AFP -
SUBS: Stuart Armstrong – 5. The Scot joined the action in place of Tella in the 71st minute. He hardly touched the ball in a dispiriting cameo. EPA -
Oriol Romeu – 5. The Spaniard replaced Diallo with 19 minutes to go. He was unable to gain a foothold in the midfield as Liverpool dominated the closing stages. Getty -
Che Adams – 5. The 25-year-old was sent on for Broja for the last eight minutes. There was nothing he could do to change the direction of the game. Getty -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker – 6. The Brazilian blocked a Broja shot at the near post early on but could do nothing to stop Redmond’s deflected goal. After the early flurry of action he had little to do. PA -
Joe Gomez – 6. The 24-year-old showed Redmond the inside for Southampton’s goal but might have expected more help from Milner. His cross to Jota helped set up the equaliser. He was injured and replaced by Henderson at the break. AP -
Joel Matip – 7. The 30-year-old looked a little nervous early on but grew in authority as the game developed. He was delighted to score the winning goal, even if he didn’t know much about it. AFP -
Ibrahima Konate – 6. The Frenchman had a couple of awkward moments against Broja but showed good positional sense. His distribution still needs work. Reuters -
Kostas Tsimikas – 8. The Greek provided width and his crossing was dangerous. The winning goal came from his corner, which was ironically one of his less impressive deliveries. AFP -
Harvey Elliott – 7. The 19-year-old was eager to get on the ball and used possession intelligently. He made way for Origi in the 65th minute after an encouraging performance. AFP -
James Milner – 8. The 36-year-old led the press in the first half and used the ball effectively. He might have done more to help out Gomez for the Southampton goal but when he moved to right-back he was a bundle of energy and aggression. AP -
Curtis Jones – 6. The 21-year-old was not at his best early on but he improved considerably. He was not afraid run at defenders. AP Photo -
Takumi Minamino – 7. The Japanese never lacks effort and was rewarded with a splendid goal against the club he was loaned to last season. His busy approach kept the defenders occupied. AP -
Roberto Firmino – 7. The Brazilian was neat with his link-up play and repeatedly took up threatening positions. He was withdrawn for Keita with seven minutes left. Getty -
Diogo Jota – 7. The Portuguese set up Minamino’s goal and was generous in trying to assist teammates. He had two efforts on goal but his all-round play was to the fore rather than his finishing. Getty -
SUBS: Jordan Henderson – 7. The 31-year-old came on for Gomez after the break and ensured Liverpool retained control of the midfield. He was unceasing in his work. EPA -
Divock Origi – 6. The Belgian replaced Elliott in the 66th minute and held up the ball with characteristic strength. He headed over from a corner. Reuters -
Naby Keita – 6. The Guinean was given the last seven minutes at Firmino’s expense. He helped his team see out the victory. AP Photo
“And Stevie doesn't play. That is a shame, much more of a shame that Stevie is not playing than I am not playing.”
Klopp added: “We are all human beings. Stevie will take it 100 per cent serious, I am sure, without me calling him or whatever, I don't have to – the rest of the club probably already did it but I didn't.
“We play to win and Aston Villa play to win. It [Etihad] is a difficult place to go, if you go there and don't play 100 per cent you get five or six [goals scored against you] and if you are fully there you have a chance to get a result.
“But this is the game I am not concerned about, not thinking about, at all. Of all the things we speak about it is completely disrespectful to Wolves as they will do exactly the same.
“They don't want to come here and be part of our celebrations. They come here and want to get three points, definitely. We have to be ready for this game not the other one.”
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Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas celebrates scoring the winning penalty against Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, on May 14. PA -
Liverpool's Jordan Henderson lifts the trophy. AP -
Liverpool fans celebrate at Wembley Stadium. AP -
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates with the trophy. AFP -
Thiago Alcantara and Mohamed Salah celebrate. Getty -
Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool celebrate with The Emirates FA Cup. Getty -
Liverpool players celebrate at the end of the FA Cup final. AP -
Liverpool celebrate winning the Emirates FA Cup. PA -
Chelsea's Mason Mount after missing a penalty. Getty -
Chelsea's Edouard Mendy saves from Sadio Mane in the penalty shootout. Getty -
Liverpool's Diogo Jota scores their sixth penalty. Getty -
Sadio Mane reacts after missing his penalty. AP -
Chelsea players after Liverpool's Sadio Mane misses a penalty. Action Images -
Chelsea's players gather prior to the penalty shootout. AFP -
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp shakes hands with Chelsea's Thomas Tuchel. AFP -
Liverpool goalkepeer Alisson Becker in action. EPA -
Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp at Wembley. AP -
Chelsea's Marcos Alonso in action against Trent Alexander-Arnold. EPA -
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is consoled by Sadio Mane and Thiago Alcantara after going down with an injury. Getty -
Liverpool striker Diogo Jota reacts after missing a chance to score. AFP
