Numerous Liverpool fringe players are 'in contention' to start the Reds' must-win Premier League clash with Southampton, according to journalist James Pearce.

The Lowdown: Reds must beat Saints

Jurgen Klopp's men haven't had long to celebrate their FA Cup triumph, with a trip to St Mary's swiftly coming their way on Tuesday evening.

Liverpool know that only three points will do to keep them in the title race, with victory taking it to what could be a dramatic final day of the season.

With the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah not expected to play, however, and with legs still tired, Klopp will likely have to ring the changes against Saints.

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The Latest: Fringe players set to start

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Pearce claimed that as many as seven squad players could come into the Reds' starting lineup, including Wembley hero Kostas Tsimikas:

"Joel Matip, Kostas Tsimikas, Joe Gomez, James Milner, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino among those in contention to be handed starts v Southampton."

The Verdict: Massive test at St Mary's

In truth, this is simply a game where Klopp has to trust his squad depth, with the Champions League final against Real Madrid having to play a part in his thinking.

It would be a huge risk to play Van Dijk and Salah, while other individuals such as Andy Robertson, Thiago and Sadio Mane could also do with a breather, avoiding risk of muscle injuries before they fight for number seven in Paris.

If Liverpool drop points at Southampton because of fielding a weakened side, it will have to be seen as a calculated gamble that had to be made. The Champions League final would be a nice consolation to focus on instead of the league.

A possible Liverpool XI could be: Alisson; Gomez, Matip, Konate, Tsimikas; Henderson, Milner, Jones; Diaz, Jota, Firmino.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has provided a key Liverpool transfer update. Read more here.