Southampton head coach Ralph Hasenhuttl believes that the Premier League title is 'harder' to win than the Champions League, ahead of their home clash with quadruple-chasing Liverpool on Tuesday night.
Jurgen Klopp's side need to avoid defeat at St Mary's to keep their title hopes alive and victory for the Reds would see them move to within one point of Premier League leaders Manchester City before their final game of the season at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
Liverpool have already won the League Cup and FA Cup this term, lifting the latter last weekend after beating Chelsea on penalties in the final, but Hasenhuttl believes that success in the Premier League should be considered as their greatest triumph even if they went on to lift the Champions League.
"[The Premier League] is still the title that's the most countable for everybody because it's the hardest to get" the Austrian told BBC Sport.
"For me it's even harder to be over 38 games in the Premier League consistently on the top, than to win the Champions League sometimes."
Hasenhuttl adds: "Even if he [Klopp] says it's tough for him to go for all four, I know he will do everything to win this game on Tuesday to give himself a chance on the last day.
"I think it is fantastic for the Premier League to have such a close title race. Everybody is electrified from this battle and we are now part of this duel.
"We have done our job this season against Man City with two points; they lost four points against us in the title race. Against Liverpool, the first game we lost, so now it's up to us to show again that we can be competitive against a top team."
While Liverpool are bidding to keep their title hopes alive, 15th-placed Southampton will be looking to claim maximum points on Tuesday and match last season's point tally of 43 with a game to spare.
Oliver Thomas
