'Never had a group like this': Klopp hails 'special' Liverpool as title race goes to wire

Jurgen Klopp said he has "never had a group" like this Liverpool squad and called on his players to fight until the very end after a 2-1 win over Southampton on Tuesday ensured the Premier League title race will go down to the final day of the season.

A Liverpool side featuring nine changes to the team that won the FA Cup on Saturday responded to going behind to Nathan Redmond's 13th-minute opener with goals from Takumi Minamino and Joel Matip, moving the Reds to within one point of leaders and defending champions Manchester City.

After the exhaustive 120 minutes and penalty shootout win over Chelsea at Wembley, Klopp said he had no choice but to ring the changes, and the German expressed his pride at the players who stepped in and kept alive the club's title bid.

"It's unbelievable, what they've done makes it even more special," Klopp said. "Outstanding. What can I say about this group? It's a crime Minamino doesn't play more, Harvey [Elliott] didn't play for a long time. Curtis [Jones] didn't play much. They deliver, it's unbelievable. Making nine changes and this performance is exceptional.

"We would have had much more problems today if we'd played the guys who played 120 minutes on Saturday.

"I ask for a lot. I saw them enjoying the game and playing football. We conceded a goal out of nothing, It looked like a foul. I'm really proud of the boys. Since January we only drew three times. We had corona outbreaks.

"I never had a group like this. They push each other constantly. Tonight is really special. It worked out because of the boys."

SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Alex McCarthy – 5. The 32-year-old was playing his first game this year and looked rusty. He should have done better at the near post for the equaliser but had no