Southampton vs Liverpool: Ralph Hasenhuttl keen to play down Jurgen Klopp comparisons

Austrian Hasenhuttl was even dubbed the “Alpine Klopp” upon his arrival at Southampton in December to replace Mark Hughes

Ralph Hasenhuttl understands why he is compared to Jurgen Klopp but insists he is his own man as he prepares to face the Liverpool manager.

Austrian Hasenhuttl was even dubbed the “Alpine Klopp” upon his arrival at Southampton in December to replace Mark Hughes.

There are certainly easy comparisons to make. Both managers are advocates of the 'gegenpress' and both achieved success in Germany, Klopp with Borussia Dortmund and Hasenhuttl at RB Leipzig.

The two go head to head at St Mary's tonight with Klopp hunting for the title and Hasenhuttl aiming to keep Saints clear of relegation trouble.

"The reason why the people compare us is maybe because we are playing similar football with pressing style and we are very emotional on the line," said Hasenhuttl.

"I think the comparison is finished there because I am a character we can’t compare.

"He's doing a fantastic job in Liverpool and I try to do my job here, and I think we are both successful so far."

Hasenhuttl's salvage operation on the south coast is almost complete having taken over with Saints languishing in the relegation zone.

After the Liverpool match they have a friendly looking run-in culminating in a visit from already relegated Huddersfield.

Yet the 51-year-old, who has already presided over home wins against Arsenal and Tottenham, has designs on taking points from the Reds as well.

"We have seven more games to go in this year and we are five points ahead of the line," he added.

"It feels comfortable at the moment but we want to go on and keep on working.

The Austrian insists he is his own man (Southampton FC via Getty)

"That’s what we will do and coming after Liverpool the games are maybe more chances to take a win, but you never know.

"If you play against one of the top six in England nobody expects something from you and you have a little bit less pressure.

"If you know us as sportsmen or me as a manager you know we want to win every game and we hate to lose, so the challenge is something we like to have.

"You can feel it when I stand here in the morning for the opposition meeting and talk to my players that they are very concentrated and they want to hear how we want to play and to have the right details for them to be perfectly prepared for such an opponent.

Southampton sit five points clear of the drop zone (Southampton FC via Getty)

"They know you need a nearly perfect game against such an opponent and this makes it so interesting for the team and also for the manager.

"We are studying the opponent all the time and it is maybe about chess and finding the right move at the right moment and that makes this so interesting.

"In some areas against this team to take a risk is horrible because they immediately win the ball, and then it goes very quick with a lot of speed on the pitch.

"I think we must be brave in the right areas and play football in the right areas, and we have showed we can score and get results against these big teams, but it is a very tough challenge."

Hasenhuttl will be without top scorer Danny Ings, who has just come back from injury but is ineligible to play as he is on loan from Liverpool.

However, he can welcome back fellow striker Shane Long, who missed last weekend's 1-0 win over Brighton with a groin problem.

Midfielder Mario Lemina, who has yet to play in 2019 due to a groin issue, remains unavailable although Hasenhuttl is confident the Gabon international will be back before the end of the season.