LIVERPOOL head coach Arne Slot has urged players and fans to treat the visit of Southampton like a final and not be distracted by their crunch PSG decider and Newcastle Carabao Cup final.
The leaders could go 16 points clear with Arsenal not playing Manchester United until Sunday but a game against one of the worst teams of the Premier League era is not one to get the pulses racing.
After Wednesday’s smash-and-grab 1-0 win in the French capital the attention is, understandably, on next week’s Champions League last-16 second leg which is then followed by the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle.
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But Slot has issued a plea for everyone to get on board for the visit of Saints, saying: “For me the one against Southampton is by far the most important.
“I have to convince my players we play three finals and I am hoping that I influence our fans so they understand how important they are going to be.
“I hope they will not come into the stadium five minutes before kick-off, I’m hoping the stadium is already filled half-an-hour before so these players get the reward for what they did in Paris.
“I know the final is there and everyone is already talking to me about how the atmosphere will be on a Champions League night but truly I hope our fans will be at their loudest tomorrow.”
Slot has not given any thought to team selections for either PSG or Newcastle.
But after taking into consideration the physical exertions in Paris, where his side were completely dominated for the best part of 70 minutes, he will weigh up the mental impact.
“That is difficult to measure but it is definitely something you also feel when you are on the touchline and it is something you definitely take into account,” he added.
“They have run just as much as the other games but there is difference if you have 70 per cent ball possession or you have only 30 per cent.
“The runs you have to make are from a negative perspective if they have the ball all the time and it is not as nice as if you have the ball.
“That is why I was happy with the goal Harvey (Elliott) scored because it gives us a good advantage for the second game but mentally it helps a lot.”