NEWCASTLE, United Kingdom, May 5, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen
Klopp believes his side can do no more to end a 29-year wait to win the
Premier League as Divock Origi’s late winner earned a thrilling 3-2 victory
at Newcastle on Saturday despite losing Mohamed Salah to a head knock.
Salah was stretchered off 20 minutes from time making him a doubt for
Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final, second leg against Barcelona, while
Klopp confirmed Roberto Firmino will definitely miss the visit of the Spanish
champions to Anfield.
“We’ll have to see. He (Salah) took a blow to the head. He watched the
game in the locker room, he was OK, but we have to do more tests,” Klopp told
Sky Sports.
Overturning a 3-0 first leg deficit against Barca now looks an even more
monumental task, although Liverpool stay in the hunt for the Premier League
title.
However, rivals Manchester City have two games remaining to Liverpool’s
one.
In a recurring theme of a thrilling title race, Liverpool dug deep late on
to continue asking questions of the champions by moving two points ahead of
City once more.
“I accepted long ago we do everything (we can),” said Klopp, whose side
have lost only once in the league this season.
“Whether we will be champions or not is destiny because we cannot do more.
“Even in the draws we tried everything to win the games. The boys showed
in each second they really want to win it.”
Faced with a difficult balancing act to strike, Klopp made four changes to
the side beaten by Barcelona in midweek.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of those recalled and the England right-
back was to have an eventful evening at both ends.
Alexander-Arnold’s corner found Van Dijk completely unmarked to open the
scoring as Rondon slipped and the PFA’s Player of the Year powered home his
fifth goal of the season.
Newcastle had barely ventured over the halfway line in the first 20
minutes, but levelled with their first serious attack.
Matt Ritchie’s driven cross was turned goalwards by Rondon, whose shot was
saved on the line by the arm of Alexander-Arnold.
A penalty and a red card would likely have followed for the Liverpool
defender had Atsu not put home the rebound.
All of a sudden Newcastle looked the more dangerous side as Ayoze Perez
turned Van Dijk before smashing off the crossbar.
However, an enthralling first 28 minutes took another twist when
Alexander-Arnold made the most of his reprieve to still be on the field with
his second assist of the night.
His cross found Salah inside the area, but the Egyptian still had plenty
to do as he cushioned a finish into the far corner on his weaker right foot
to move two in front of teammate Sadio Mane and Sergio Aguero in the race for
the Golden Boot.
Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez could have been taking charge of the Magpies
for the last time at home as the Spaniard’s contract runs out at the end of
the season.
But his side did not go down without a fight as Rondon’s sweet strike
levelled once more early in the second half.
“We will have conversations in the next couple of weeks. It is so simple,
you can see the potential,” said Benitez, whose four seasons at the club have
been marred by a frosty relationship with owner Mike Ashley.
“I am really proud and pleased because we stayed up but I would like to do
something more.”
Salah was caught on the head by Martin Dubravka as Newcastle’s Slovakian
goalkeeper raced from his goal to punch the ball to safety.
He was stretchered off, his hands over his face to applause from both sets
of supporters.
“He got the hip of the goalie on his head,” added Klopp. “When we came in
he was sitting in the dressing room and watched the game. He was then fine
but we have to wait.”
Without two thirds of their prolific frontline, Liverpool would have been
forgiven for thinking their chase of City was up.
But, not for the first time this season, Origi, who scored a 96th minute
winner against Everton in the Merseyside derby in December, came off the
bench to score a vital late goal as he got his head to Xherdan Shaqiri’s
free-kick.