Ralph Hasenhuttl stokes the fires ahead of crunch Liverpool clash by branding the game ‘Southampton’s Champions League final’ in a match Jurgen Klopp’s men must win to keep their title and Quadruple hopes alive
- Southampton host Liverpool in a crucial Premier League match on Tuesday
- Liverpool must win the match to keep Premier League and quadruple hope alive
- But Ralph Hasenhuttl is ready to give Liverpool a difficult game at St Mary’s
Ralph Hasenhuttl described Liverpool’s visit as Southampton’s Champions League final, a big billing that will be music to the ears of Pep Guardiola.
Hasenhuttl has promised Southampton will not be handing out any gifts when they host Liverpool in a pivotal game in the Premier League title race.
Leaders Manchester City will be sweating on the result of tonight’s St Mary’s meeting after drawing at West Ham on Sunday to keep second-placed Liverpool’s hopes alive.
Ralph Hasenhuttl described Liverpool’s visit as Southampton’s Champions League final
Liverpool won the FA Cup on Saturday and must beat Saints for the Premier League title hopes
But City should have no concerns about Southampton’s determination in their final home game of the season even though they are now all but safe from relegation.
Hasenhuttl said: ‘They [Southampton fans] know what team we are facing, how tough it is, what run of form they are and even if they have some injuries how tough it is against the Champions League finalists.
‘It is 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.’
Guardiola, half-jokingly, urged Southampton to beat Liverpool 4-0 and they have proved what awkward opponents they can be for the league’s top sides especially at home while they have drawn with City at the Etihad as well as St Mary’s.
On Southampton’s big-game home form Hasenhuttl said: ‘Tottenham when we were one man down and did a fantastic job. Against Arsenal we won, against Man City we have drawn, against Man United we have drawn also.
‘We’ve shown against top teams that we can together achieve something very big. That is what we need on Tuesday.’
Hasenhuttl, though, considers Liverpool ‘the best team in the world maybe’ and ‘one of the most difficult games to prepare for’ due to their flexibility and ‘unbelievable offensive qualities.’
Hasenhuttl’s Southampton face Liverpool on Tuesday and will be looking to upset the odds
Hasenhuttl’s Saints have already taken two draws off the Reds’ title rivals Manchester City
Hasenhuttl, whose side have won just one of their last 11 games, added: ‘We all know Jurgen and how strong he is at focusing. You can be sure that he doesn’t give up the chance for winning the league.
‘Even if he says it is tough now to go for all four [trophies] I know he will do everything to win this game to give himself the chance on the last day. For us it is to not be here to give any presents.
‘We’re really also, I don’t want to say under pressure because we are safe in the league, but we want to show that we have a different face. This must be motivation enough for us.’
