LONDON • Jurgen Klopp has issued the magic number of "90-something" points if Liverpool are to lift the Premier League title this season and end 29 years of hurt.

He set the target after the Reds' late rally at Southampton to secure a 3-1 victory on Friday, re-establishing a two-point advantage at the top of the table over defending champions Manchester City.

It was far from easy for Klopp's men, who were rarely at their best at St Mary's after being confronted by awkward opponents, but it is nights like these that will only pep belief the long wait is almost over.

In this tussle at the top, they will not be the first to blink after Mohamed Salah's first goal since mid-February and Jordan Henderson in the last 10 minutes sealed the win.

Shane Long had grabbed the opener, only for Naby Keita to equalise with his maiden strike since joining Liverpool.

Purring after a "brilliant" comeback, Klopp, who joined in the celebrations after the final whistle, said: "We have 82 points, that is massive in this crazy league and everyone is waiting for us (to slip up). I am really proud. It is incredible.

"It is a difficult year for everybody, you'll need to have 70 to 75 points to qualify for the Champions League. But we are still in the race and that is nice.

"They deserved their early goal but we adjusted to the situation, stayed calm and waited for our moment. We had to be more lively in the second half, when Trent Alexander-Arnold and Georginio Wijnaldum were struggling with the intensity of the season.

"But James Milner and Henderson came on, brought aggressiveness - verbal aggressiveness - and we had direction again after that."

The two substitutions were highlighted by pundit and former Reds defender Jamie Carragher, who told Sky Sports they were "massive" and "a great decision" at a point when their "passing at times in the game was a bit too slow".

While the Liverpool boss admitted the performance was "not at the top level", Klopp praised his side for showing grit, insisting that "at this stage, it is about fighting".

Declaring his team "will play our own football" as they enter the home stretch with five games remaining, the German said: "People want us to play like Manchester City but we are unable to do that.

"I told the boys we have a good mentality among us. We were well-organised, we pressed high and were everywhere on the pitch."

He also hailed Salah, who had been questioned before the match, claiming his class was "never in doubt", adding: "It was goal number 50 I heard for Liverpool, that's an incredible number.

"As a striker, you have chances and each striker is a human being. Maybe you have better moments and less good moments.

"But he's pretty consistent, his physical things are always there. He always stayed calm to deal with the situation."

And defender Virgil van Dijk, who was again a rock on his return to his former club, fired a warning to the rest of the teams that have yet to play Liverpool this term, starting with Chelsea next Sunday, that "with the players we have, with the way we play, we are always going to be dangerous with".

He added: "I do enjoy it (the pressure), obviously, I do not like conceding, but we showed character. The most important thing is to just keep on doing what we've been doing all season."

Henderson agreed with his teammate's assertion that their battling qualities were for all to see, before calling on the squad to make a final push and give the red half of Merseyside the present they have long desired.

It has been an unrelenting campaign with plenty of drama - the title lead has changed hands 25 times this season, the joint second most in a campaign since 1945.

But, with the finish line in sight, Henderson stressed this was a golden chance for his team.

The skipper, who scored his first goal of the campaign, said: "We've got to win every game. It was a big performance in the second half and a big result.

"I haven't got in those positions often this season because I've been in a deeper role. The manager felt I could get in the final-third positions more. No matter what happens in the game, we still fight right until the very end.

"That is what we have been doing for a long time now, and we need to keep that mentality going and not stopping until that final whistle goes."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN