Klopp Concerned About Points Not Performance In Title Race

By Max Wise

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has urged his players to fight for the Premier League title rather than worry about performances after returning to the top of the table with a 3-1 away win at Southampton on Friday.

With just five games of the season remaining, Klopp reckons now is not the time to worry about performances but rather picking out all points on board as they bid to win the title for the first time in 29 years.

"We had a few performances not on top level but we were always in the game," said Klopp.

"It's not about that, it's really about fighting."

"People want us to play like City," said Klopp. "We are not able to do that, why should we do it? We have our way to play football, it's a nice way and a really good way.

"It is a difficult year for everybody. You need to have 70-75 points for the Champions League and 90-something for the title. We are in the race and that is nice."

Liverpool fell behind to Shane Long’s 9th minute opener for the hosts before Guinean midfielder Naby Keita equalized for the Reds with his first goal for the club since his summer switch from RB Leibzig.

Mohamed Salah’s 50th league goal for Liverpool and his first in nine games looked to have secured all three points for the Reds ten minutes from time, before captain Jordan Henderson killed off any hopes of the Saints mounting a late comeback with a third goal for the visitors.

Liverpool will return to league action with a crucial home game against Chelsea next weekend.