Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has made the incredible assertion that Sunday’s comeback win over Newcastle United was “much more difficult” than the one they managed against Barcelona in 2019.
Anthony Gordon put the Magpies ahead in the 25th minute and moments later Virgil van Dijk was sent off for denying Alexander Isak a goalscoring opportunity.
That gave Liverpool a mountain to climb, but super sub Darwin Nunez helped the Reds scale it with a late brace. The Uruguayan capitalised on a mistake by Sven Botman to score the equaliser in the 85th minute before Mo Salah played him in for the winner in injury time.
Klopp felt Liverpool’s rough start to the game made it a harder challenge than the comeback they achieved against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, when they won the second leg 4-0 after losing 3-0 at the Nou Camp.
“It was much more difficult than the Barcelona game,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“We were at Anfield for that game. Today was different. We didn’t start the game well, we conceded a goal and got a red card. Then we played better.
“At half-time the feeling was there that something was possible. Nunez with a super performance. I don’t think we needed too much luck.
“We calmed the game down and brought on Darwin, he was obviously fired up from not starting. We had really good football moments. It was a super mature performance.”
Klopp added: “For the moment, it’s great. With 10 men in my history, I have never had something like that at Newcastle, in this stadium with that atmosphere, it is crazy. Next week it is, Aston Villa, they are strong like crazy.”
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