Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp claims Southampton’s current league position is deceiving ahead of their battle this Friday night.
The two sides will meet at St Mary’s this week, with the Saints currently 16th in the Premier League table.
Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side are just five points above the drop zone with seven games remaining, while Liverpool are locked in a title battle with Manchester City at the opposite end of the table.
Southampton have won three of their last five games and they continue to improve under Hassenhuttl and Klopp is wary of the threat they will pose.
He told the club’s official website: “I think they are eighth in the form table since he’s in – the last 15 games at least.
That means they are fighting for the league, that gives you good information about the intensity of the game probably. “It’s a home game for Southampton, that’s another thing, but on the other side they play football with a clear style. “Meanwhile, they made a few good decisions.
Related: Solskjaer Planning Squad Revamp
I have to say, the job he is doing since he’s there is incredible. He’s brought the young players in, academy players.
It’s good, of course, but in the situation when he came in, it’s pretty brave as well. It’s a good side, it’s a really good side.
We know about that. “The analysis was very interesting because it doesn’t look like a team who fight for the league [status].
They look confident, they do what they do and they stick to it. Even the games they lost were rather unlucky.”
