Reaction'We never give up and showed our mental strength again'

Goals from Takumi Minamino and Joel Matip, who nodded in after Tsimikas’ corner, saw the Reds claim a 2-1 victory at St Mary’s Stadium that takes the Premier League title race down to the final day of the season.

Jürgen Klopp’s team, who host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, have amassed 89 points from their 37 games so far this term – one fewer than Manchester City, who close the campaign at home to Aston Villa.

Read our post-match interview with Tsimikas below…

Kostas, how big a challenge was it to get it over the line after all you guys went through at Wembley at the weekend?

It was a very, very, very hard game. We came here to be 100 per cent focused, this was very, very difficult, but one more time this team shows very big things. We have a lot of hopes about the Premier League and we go to fight for it. No matter what the result [is between] Manchester City and Aston Villa we want to win the last game in front of our fans to close the season well and it’s very, very important for us to get the win before the Champions League final.

There was so much pressure when Southampton went ahead, what was the message at that point?

Yes, of course, always these things can happen, even [if] it was from a lucky shot. The most important thing is to stick to the plan, to be 100 per cent focused and you will get your chances. This is exactly what we did, we scored two very good goals and we won. We never give up, this team shows one more time how strong mentally we are. A big congratulations to all the boys who played and we are, what a team!

The manager made nine changes to the starting line-up – how do you work as a squad to keep pushing each other?

Of course everybody pushes each other. I think this is the good recipe for everything. Everybody works hard, even if they are not in the squad, even if they don’t play. We are 100 per cent ready and we showed one more time that we are very strong mentally. What can I say about this team? We are all in, we go for everything and to achieve our goals.

How will you approach the game on Sunday? Do you just want to make sure City have to win in order to take the title?

Yes of course, we go to win. No matter what the result is going to be for Manchester City, we will play to win and to be happy with our fans. In the Premier League we give absolutely everything, we deserve I think the trophy but of course Man City is one very, very good team. Of course, it was a big competition but every challenge [this season] we were there: we won the FA Cup, we won the Carabao Cup, we are in the Champions League final. We are second [in the Premier League], one point behind and I can’t say anything else about this team. I’m very proud and very happy for everybody.