Klopp on top-four race, Saints challenge and more

The Reds boss offered an injury update on Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson and Danny Ings, and gave his thoughts on the Reds' matchwinner against Watford on Monday, Emre Can.

Klopp also discussed the recent contributions of the club's longest-serving player Lucas Leiva, and revealed how Daniel Sturridge's fitness is being managed during the run-in.

To see what else the boss had to say on the race for a top-four finish, the power of Anfield and the threat of Southampton, read our transcript below.

On the Reds' league position...

[It's] the best [position] we can have because it’s the only thing we can have. It's all good so far. That's football; two weeks ago after Crystal Palace it was [bad] and then one week later it's [good]. I don't know who it was that mentioned that maybe we’d go into the game against Watford in fifth position because of other results. Somebody obviously thought the results are already written and that's how football is, nothing is for sure. We didn’t think about it, we only tried to do our job, the boys did it and that's what we have to do again. We know about the situation and fighting for the top spots you need to win pretty much each game, that's how it is. Pressure, positive pressure, we can go for something, we know about the quality of the opponent. Southampton is, for me, one of the best football-playing sides in the Premier League, I like watching them a lot. I'm not sure [how they have] only 41 points but it can’t be because of the style or whatever. Strong side, a difficult job to do, but our job to do. The plan is for Sunday that we can use Anfield. I know how it is, for some people it’s maybe a nervy situation and they bite on their [nails] and think, ‘hopefully, hopefully, hopefully it can happen’. But we need to be brave, we need to enjoy the game, we need to play football, we need to defend very serious and if possible to use the crowd, creating a special atmosphere. It's something really special; we have these important games and two of them are at home and now there's only one game this weekend, against Southampton. I hope we can all be in our best shape.

On the importance of Anfield...

It’s not [for] me to expect something, it’s only about how it could be. I understand absolutely that people are getting nervous in different situations and they're not happy with this or that pass. The atmosphere was always really, really good but we all know we had a few fantastic ones and a few outstanding and a few normal. But it's Anfield, it's really always more than good. That’s how it is but what we are going for is for LFC - not for the players, not for the board, not for the manager, not for the coaches - it's for LFC, for all of us, the whole family. So we should try to do it together, that's all, and being as positive as possible and as loud as possible we try to be as good as possible and that's all that can make the difference. I think we should try to use each little piece that can help us.

LFCTV GO: Watch Jürgen Klopp preview LFC v Southampton

On LFC's record v Southampton this season...

It’s normal that people always compare different games against the same opponent but that's not really important. In all of our analysis that we do we don’t watch the games we played against Southampton, we watch the last three games they played. We think about maybe our last performance or this period if you want. That's much more important, not how we played in January against Southampton. For us, January was absolutely the wrong moment to play two such decisive games, a semi-final, against Southampton. They took the chance [but] I thought, especially when we played there, we had our chances. I have not a lot of memories of this game but it’s not like we had no chance against them or we could not score against them or couldn't create against them. They are strong, that's what you need to know, that’s all, like the Premier League is. We know, I would say, pretty much exactly how they play - from the line-up side, if they are all fit, you can imagine who will start and that’s a good thing in the preparation for the game. The system is rather clear and all that stuff so that's things we need to know and not the other games. The other Capital One Cup game at Southampton, where we performed like hell and [scored] six, that’s also not important. So we have to be ready for this game, we have to defend with all we have because that’s always the base for success. When we can do this, then we should have the confidence after this long season that we know we always create chances. If you create chances then, of course, you have to use it, that's how football life is. In this moment, there is no issue, we should be prepared, we try everything, we want to use set-pieces, we want to defend set-pieces, all the stuff, we spoke about everything, we did everything, we will do everything in training. That's it. 

On recent results at home...

From the result-side it is clear, but the performances... Crystal Palace, in a few moments you cannot play better - in a few moments, probably not enough, but we should not concede the goals. It's not a period in the season where the highest results will come for pretty much [any] team, that's hard work for all of us. There is always one fighting for staying in the league, one is enjoying their football - there is always a reason why the other teams also are able to perform. We have no issue with Anfield, we love it, we love playing there, so there's not really a reason for the performances. Bournemouth would have been another close result; if we don't concede the equaliser then it’s 2-1 and then everything is fine [but] it was only a point. Against Crystal Palace, everybody saw the game, we made these two mistakes. But it’s not about being at Anfield or being somewhere, it was the moment. How I said, I think we all can improve and that’s what we should try and not to think about what happened in the last few weeks or months because it doesn't help. The only thing that helps is that we are at our best on Sunday at 1.30 until the final whistle, that's the only thing that we all should think about. We have two days to prepare for this and that's what we do, I would appreciate if everyone would do it. 

On what the Reds need to finish in the top four...

I think we should win the next game, that’s what I am pretty sure about. It's the only game we have. It cannot be our job to count points, our job is to get them, and everyone else can count them and see where it leads to. There is absolutely no club in the top spots who can waste points in this moment, that's like it is. Not Chelsea, not Tottenham, not Liverpool, City, United, Arsenal, no club has the opportunity to rest, so we all have to fight with all we have. That makes this league so exciting, we have this battle, then you have the relegation battle - there is a lot to go for in this league. We are focused on our race and it's difficult enough without thinking about the other games. We hear the results or see the games if we can, if we have time for it, but that’s all, it’s like a neutral football supporter. You take the result and work on our own positive result.

On whether the chasing pack face more pressure...

No idea, no idea. I think we have pressure, but I cannot imagine how big the pressure is on them. That's not my job to do. I said it a few times, I like this kind of pressure, it's the best kind of pressure you can have, fighting for something really special. That doesn't mean that it feels always good, it's not that you enjoy each second before a game, or enjoy each second in the game, but it's this kind of pressure you have if you fight for something in each kind of sports. So, we are in it, that’s positive, and to stay in it we need to win.