Jurgen Klopp claims quadruple quest taking toll on Liverpool ahead of Southampton clash

Jurgen Klopp says that Liverpool's relentless fixture schedule as they chase a historic quadruple is taking its toll on his team.

Liverpool take on Southampton in the Premier League on Tuesday having just won the FA Cup following a draining penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea at Wembley Stadium three days earlier.

The Merseyside club are currently second in the table, four points behind Manchester City having played a game less than Pep Guardiola's team.

Tuesday's match at St Mary's Stadium will be their 61st of an intense campaign that will come to an end on May 28 when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

“They are pretty much sleeping on their massage beds,” Klopp said of his players ahead of the game on the south coast.

“It's better to moan and argue when you've won, but why did they think the best day for our game was Tuesday?”

“Nobody thought we could have had an extra day's rest and played on the Thursday? We're going there with eight players who played 120 minutes so we will have to make changes – I just do not know how many.

“All the same, I can't wait to play the game. I'm really excited about it and we will go with all we have to make it happen.”

While Liverpool is playing barely three days after 120 intense minutes against Chelsea, Southampton will have had 10 days since its most recent game and is known for its high-energy, heavy-pressing style of play under Ralph Hasenhuttl.

“They’ll be completely fresh,” Klopp said. “We cannot go there, fall into this game and go, ‘What’s going on here?’ Southampton is a really well-drilled team, full of energy … and playing their last home game of the season.”

There has been no decision made on whether the injuries Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk