Jurgen Klopp joked that Liverpool’s win over Newcastle United was ‘six months’ in the making after the Reds moved to within six points of the Champions League places.
Liverpool have endured a difficult season so far, but back-to-back wins over Everton and the Magpies has got them firmly back in contention for a top four finish. Newcastle currently occupy fourth, but the Reds, who are the only side to beat them in the Premier League this season, completed a league double over Eddie Howe’s side courtesy of first half goals from Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo.
With both goals the end result of eye-catching team moves after lofted through-balls, Klopp shared his love of both strikes when speaking at his post-match press conference after the game.
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“Yeah, six months unfortunately,” he joked when asked if the manner of the goals was something Liverpool had specifically worked on. “I don’t know exactly how often the boys played in that formation, and that is very important.
“You can train but you need the games you have to work on details. I loved the goals, the way we moved, not offside, the finish, the vision of the pass.
“Trent top pass, super control Darwin, super goal. Then the second goal, really good link-up play and then the chip from Mo to Cody. Top goals, honestly.
“I think we knew how intense the start of Newcastle is, especially at home. You have to be ready for that. It was a bit wild. But in the moment we controlled it and we scored incredible goals, top goals.”
Liverpool could have even led 3-0 before half-time when a Nick Pope error almost gifted Mohamed Salah an open goal. However, the Newcastle goalkeeper recovered by deliberately handling the ball outside of his area, earning him a red card for his troubles.
Believing his side should have added to the scoring against 10 men, Klopp admitted he would have preferred for Pope to have not been sent off.
“The possible third goal, his hand, I didn’t see it, the red card,” he said. “I would have preferred a goal because I think it was possible if Mo gets on the ball. It is pretty likely that we score there.
“And playing against 11 because it was the moment where we lost a bit of rhythm. Because of the amount of set pieces we gave away, that was always a threat and there is no advantage 11 vs 10 when the ball is on the corner flag or wherever. There is no advantage and there was far too many.
“We had moments where we could have scored the third or fourth one. We didn’t. Once unlucky, once, I still don’t understand it. A square ball for Mo and he goes down.
“I didn’t see it back but in the moment it looked for me like a penalty. I don’t know. But we didn’t score and it keeps the game exciting.
“Credit to Newcastle, they put a proper shift in and fought really hard. It was exciting until the end but we got the three points and are very happy about them.”
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