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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Jurgen Klopp makes Man City admission over Liverpool team selection

Jurgen Klopp has praised the attitude of Liverpool's fringe midfielders - as they were put on standby for next Tuesday's trip to Southampton.

Klopp has a plethora of options in the engine room even allowing for the absence of Fabinho, who will miss Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley having suffered a hamstring strain in Tuesday's Premier League win at Aston Villa.

Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita are the likely midfield three against the Londoners as Liverpool look to complete the second part of a still-possible quadruple.

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Curtis Jones started his first Premier League game in almost six weeks at Villa Park, while James Milner has made one such appearance since January, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn't been in a top-flight squad since early April and Harvey Elliott has featured for one 30-minute substitute outing in the league since returning from injury in February.

However, they could now be in line for an appearance at Southampton next week should Manchester City effectively seal the Premier League title with victory at West Ham United on Sunday.

Asked about the contribution of his squad midfielders, Klopp said on Friday: "They played all the time a very important part. The few minutes a week where we can really train, without these boys showing the attitude they have shown all year, we have no chance to deliver the performances we have delivered. That's absolutely 100% true.

"We will see. We might play tomorrow 90 minutes or 120 minutes, but that will not change the kick-off time for the Southampton game. Depending on the result of City on Sunday, then we go for something or not or whatever, we will see that at Southampton. We need to be ready for that game and make decisions then again. We have enough options for the moment. It's obvious we have to now find the right one."

Fabinho will also miss the trip to St Mary's although Klopp is adamant the Brazilian will be back for the showdown against Real Madrid in Paris on May 28.

"He will definitely be back for the Champions League final," said the Reds boss. "Before, we will see. We don't know.

"He has reacted absolutely okay. Fab is a professional, he was obviously not happy about it, that's clear, but he took it. He is already taking on the fight, that's how it is. It's not enough if you are ready on Friday for a final so it will be Tuesday or Wednesday or something like that and we are working on that and we are all very positive that will be the case. He's absolutely okay."

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