Kieran Trippier: "We know we're in a fight now"

Kieran Trippier feels our performance in the second half at Liverpool provides the blueprint for the rest of the season.

Trailing 1-0 at half-time, we took the game to the title challengers - unbeaten at Anfield - after the break, controlled possession, levelled through Lucas Moura and created chances to win it before a late sucker-punch own goal saw us leave with nothing.

It was tough to take for the team, but the feeling post-match was chalk and cheese to the feeling the players had walking away from St Mary’s on 9 March.

“This was more like us and better than we’ve played in recent weeks,” said full-back ‘Trips’, who played a key role in Lucas’ goal. “It’s there to see, especially in the second half. We dominated the game and we’ve just got to be more clinical in different moments.

“I thought we handled the occasion well, stood our ground and deserved more. That’s the frustration.”

A run of five games without a win has seen it close up in the Premier League. With seven matches left, we’re now fourth, two points adrift of Arsenal, level with United and a point ahead of Chelsea.

Kieran added: “We know we’re in a fight now, of course. Every game is a fight in the Premier League and we’ve seven huge games left.

“We have to keep going. If we play how we played in the second half at Anfield for the rest of the season we’ll be alright. We have to keep going, keep fighting for each other and Wednesday night against Palace is no different.

“We’ve a lot of home games left (five), we’re in the new stadium, it’s a big occasion for everyone and somewhere we all want to play. We’ve a fantastic stadium and we’ll give everything to start with a win.”