Football
Tom Bell 8y

Liverpool must wait over Alberto Moreno fitness ahead of Southampton

LIVERPOOL -- Jurgen Klopp has said Liverpool are awaiting a full diagnosis on the injury that forced Alberto Moreno out of Thursday's Europa League game against Manchester United.

Klopp, whose side travel to Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday, steered Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford to see them through to the quarterfinals 3-1 on aggregate.

He said he was unsure whether Moreno would be back for the Southampton game, and also warned that his players' growing confidence could vanish if they did not continue working hard.

"We had to wait to do a scan," Klopp said of left-back Moreno. "That can give you a little clue, but we saw nothing in the scan.

"Alberto is a player who really ignores pain. We could not take the risk [of playing him against United]. We'll do another scan, then see if it's more clear. If there's nothing visible, maybe then we'll try to use him."

Klopp described confidence as "a flower," and added: "If you step on it then it's away in a second. It is harder to let it grow than die.

"Things like this [the Europa win over United] help of course, but nothing is older than the result yesterday.

"We have to be prepared for the rest of the games. Results in recent weeks are not perfect, but more than OK. In the position we are in, you always want to get up the table."

But the manager stressed that his side's 6-1 win at St Mary's in the Capital One Cup earlier this season would not be a factor.

"Southampton, when we played them -- OK, it was the perfect result for us that night, but it's two good sides," he added.

"Southampton are a really good side and we'll have to be at 100 percent to get something there."

Klopp said the "intensive" nature of the match at Old Trafford meant "we need to figure out who is in shape and will be available to play."

And he praised Saints counterpart Ronald Koeman, saying: "He's done a brilliant job at Southampton.

"The best news is that I don't have to play against Ronald Koeman but our sides will play -- that will give me a better chance."

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