With Southampton ahead of the more fancied sides in the Premier League, the Portugal international hopes that expectation will work in his side’s

Southampton captain Jose Fonte says that the pressure is all on his side’s rivals as they push for a Champions League place.

Ronald Koeman’s Saints sit third in the Premier League table after 24 matches thanks to Saturday’s late 1-0 win at QPR.

Only six points separate Southampton, on 45, and sixth-placed Liverpool, with Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal Tin between them and Fonte expects those behind them to struggle with the expectation.

“Those teams have all the pressure in the world,” he told reporters.

“For us, no-one really believes in us, no-one really thinks that we’re going to get there but we as players and the group believe in ourselves and we’re going to be fighting for that.

“It’s going to be like this until the end, I think. As we said before the game, we just need to keep going game by game, keep digging, grinding the results out and we’ll see in the end where that takes us.”

Southampton are in action on Wednesday, as they host West Ham to St Mary’s. 

The Reds have kept clean sheets in four consecutive matches and the defender hopes that they can extend that run against Mauricio Pochettino’s men on Tuesday night

Martin Skrtel takes confidence from Liverpool’s recent solid defensive displays and has called for more of the same ahead of Tuesday’s Premier League clash with Tottenham at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers’ side looked vulnerable earlier in the campaign, keeping just five clean sheets in their opening 20 matches, but a run of four consecutive games without conceding points to a greater defensive stability, while an eight-match unbeaten run has seen them climb to seventh in the table.

Saturday’s 0-0 draw with neighbours Everton provided further evidence of Liverpool’s solidity and Skrtel has been encouraged by the team’s performances in recent weeks.

“We have changed the system to a back three and it is working for us,” he told the club’s official website. “We are defending much better. It suits us. I hope we can carry on this way in the future.

“I’m happy for the team, because we have improved our defending. There was a lot of criticism. Since New Year, we have only conceded one goal from open play – that’s great and I’m happy about that.

“The Spurs game is massive. Tottenham are a few points in front of us. It’s going to be a big game; now we have a few days to get ready for it.

“I believe and hope we can beat them and get three points but every single game is important for us. We’ll go game by game, try to get as many points as we can and try to finish in the top four.”

Tuesday will see Skrtel come up against arguably the most in-form striker in the division in Spurs’ Harry Kane. The England Under-21 international scored both goals as Tottenham came from behind to defeat north London rivals Arsenal 2-1 at White Hart Lane on Saturday, taking his tally to 22 in all competitions this season.

That victory means that Tottenham come into this match just outside the Champions League places, with only one defeat in their past 10 league games, and manager Mauricio Pochettino wants to carry that momentum forward.

“Our performance was great because in front of us was a tough team like Arsenal,” he said on Saturday. “It’s always a special game.

“We showed a special energy and it’s important to keep this feeling. We have to keep going, look forward and move onto the next game now.”

Liverpool have doubts over Lucas Leiva, who had to come off at Goodison Park with a thigh problem, while Adam Lallana’s groin injury is also a concern. Daniel Sturridge could be in line for his first start since August as he steps up his recovery from thigh and calf problems and 19-year-old Jordon Ibe could be in line to feature again after starring against Everton.

Pochettino, meanwhile, has the luxury of a fully-fit squad from which to choose.

The Reds captain’s presumptive final appearance in this fixture was low on drama, with neither side able to carve out a good enough chance to decide it either way

Everton and Liverpool played out a 0-0 Premier League draw in a Merseyside derby high on emotion but lacking in quality.

The visitors created more chances and went closest to a breakthrough when Jordon Ibe – making only his second Premier League start – rattled the post with a drive from distance midway through the first half.

Steven Gerrard, featuring in what could be his final league derby, also went close on a couple of occasions but even the introduction of Daniel Sturridge early in the second half could not help Liverpool to find a winner.

A tense affair threatened to boil over 12 minutes from time when a disagreement between Muhamed Besic and Ibe sparked a brief altercation between the two sets of players. Referee Anthony Taylor cautioned Besic, Steven Naismith and Jordan Henderson before tempers were calmed.

For Everton, it was a 10th consecutive Merseyside derby without victory in all competitions, dating back to their last triumph in October 2010.

The draw leaves Roberto Martinez’s men 12th in the table with just two Premier League wins in their last 12 matches while Liverpool are five places better off, having lost just one of their past dozen top-flight games.

The Reds were first to threaten in the 10th minute when Joel Robles tipped away a Gerrard free kick that was heading for the top corner.

The visitors suffered a blow when Lucas Leiva had to be withdrawn on the quarter-hour with what looked like an injury to his left thigh. He was replaced by Joe Allen. Two minutes later, Raheem Sterling’s deflected shot rolled across the box and Robles had to rush smartly across his line to deny Ibe from close range.

Ibe went even closer in the 27th minute when he raced forward into space and thumped an effort off the left-hand post with Robles beaten.

Kevin Mirallas sent a free kick narrowly wide from 30 yards at the start of the second half, although Simon Mignolet looked to have it covered at his near post.

Liverpool hit back with Sterling twice shooting straight at Robles before an acrobatic Gerrard effort was headed over the crossbar by Naismith.

With 55 minutes gone, Brendan Rodgers brought on Sturridge in place of Philippe Coutinho in a bid to break the deadlock. Everton responded with a change of their own as Aaron Lennon, signed on loan from Tottenham on transfer deadline day, replaced Mirallas.

With five minutes remaining there was one final chance for the hosts when Seamus Coleman saw his effort parried behind by Mignolet, as the game ended with honours even.