Jurgen Klopp said that his Liverpool side “kept believing” as they stunned Newcastle to take all three points at St. James’ Park.
Virgil Van Dijk’s straight red card following Anthony Gordon’s opening goal had Liverpool on the ropes in the first half, as the ten men were feeling the pressure on Tyneside.
But substitute Darwin Nunez’s two fine finishes completed an incredible turn around for Liverpool, continuing their unbeaten start to the Premier League season. For Newcastle, it is back-to-back league defeats.
“In my 1000 games I coached or managed whatever you want to say, I never had a game like this, that is the truth,” Klopp said.
“Not that we never turned around games, we did that, but with ten men in an atmosphere like this against an opponent like this not only I cannot remember, but I am pretty sure it never happened because these moments are rare and super special.
“I thought the boys deserved it today, because with ten men we played better and gave Newcastle a proper game. Before that it was a bit wild but the obvious advantage was with Newcastle with the 1-0.”
The game could have been out of sight for Liverpool if it hadn’t been for keeper Alisson’s sensational saves, denying Newcastle from running away with it and keeping Liverpool in with a fighting chance.
Trent Alexander-Arnold may have felt lucky not to have been sent off in the opening exchanges after being booked for throwing the ball away before he was then penalised for another foul on Gordon, but referee John Brooks didn’t brandish a second yellow.
And Klopp agreed with the referee’s decision.
“It is a foul on Trent Alexander-Arnold, which is not given, clear in front of the fourth official,” he added.
“The fourth official says to me yes it is a foul, and the ref does not give it. Then Trent kicks the ball away, his fault. Bam! Yellow.
“I don’t think it’s a red card, it is pretty much no contact, very little. The decision is like this and I cannot change it.”
