Liverpool measures the fitness of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk before facing Southampton – Sports News, First Post

The Reds, who are chasing the quartet, were given new hope that they could defeat Manchester City to win the title when Pep Guardiola’s side dropped two points in a 2-2 draw with West Ham on Sunday.

Premier League: Liverpool evaluate Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk's fitness before facing Southampton

File photo of Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah. France Press agency

London: Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool are assessing the fitness of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk as they prepare for the Premier League soccer match against Southampton on Tuesday.

The Reds, who are chasing the quartet, were given new hope that they could defeat Manchester City to win the title when Pep Guardiola’s side dropped two points in a 2-2 draw with West Ham on Sunday.

The defending champion, with one match remaining, will advance to the top of the standings with four points, with a much better goal difference than his opponent, who has only two matches left.

Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties in the FA Cup final last weekend to complete a potential four-legged return leg.

But Klopp is waiting to know the extent of the injuries suffered by top scorer Salah and defensive player Van Dijk, both of whom were forced out of Wembley on Saturday.

Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, who missed the Cup final with a muscle injury, is not yet ready to return, but Scotland defender Andy Robertson should be available after suffering a muscle spasm on Saturday.

“This process is not over yet because we only played 120 minutes two days ago,” Klopp told reporters on Monday.

“So when the boys arrive today, I have to make a lot of decisions. Then we will put together a team.

“What I can promise and say for sure is that we are going to make a team for one reason only – to try to win the game in Southampton, as difficult as it may be, because obviously that is the work that needs to be done.

“We have to see who can help. The extra 30 minutes (at Wembley) made a big difference, but we have to see.”

City slip?

Liverpool, who will face Real Madrid in the Champions League final on May 28, could reduce City’s lead to one point with a victory over St Mary’s, but Klopp does not expect Guardiola’s side to falter again.

City will host Aston Villa next Sunday, while Liverpool plays Wolves at Anfield.

“I am looking forward to tomorrow’s match,” Klopp said. “Is it a chance, a big chance? I wouldn’t say that because I don’t know when City lost points in the last two games in a row in history.

“So Aston Villa have to play in the middle of the week when they’re not used to it. As much as I’m sure they’re all professionals and that kind of thing, they want to go to City, but City are a very good football team so I don’t expect City to give up. The points are there.”

Klopp said the FA Cup win, which followed Liverpool’s League Cup win earlier this season, had taken the pressure off the club in the final weeks of the season.

“If we play a season like we played and win the Carabao Cup (league) and fight to the end for the league title, then, for me, it’s a really good season,” he said.

“To be honest, it is better that we have already won (two titles).

“If we lose the final, the negative scenario that we won’t be champions and in a few weeks we won’t all be ashamed to remind me that it all depends on one match if it’s successful or not and that kind of thing.”