Jurgen Klopp celebrates 'outstanding' goals and 'relief' after Liverpool's Premier League win over Newcastle
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ByEurosport
Updated 18/02/2023 at 22:23 GMT
Jurgen Klopp praised "outstanding" and "top class" goals from Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo as Liverpool secured an encouraging 2-0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday night in the Premier League. The German manager also admitted that "it feels great" to have won against a top-four side, after his men have struggled to hit their top form for most of the season.
'Massive, massive, massive' - Klopp on Liverpool's win at Newcastle
Jurgen Klopp said “it feels great” to have beaten Newcastle after Liverpool’s poor season to the Premier League season.
Liverpool are now eighth on 35 points, but have cut the lead of Newcastle in fourth place to just six points with their 2-0 victory at St James' Park.
Klopp’s men have a game in hand, and a late rally of form this season could yet earn them a Champions League spot next season, which had looked unlikely for much of the current campaign.
Speaking to the BBC, Klopp began: "Against 10 men for that long time you could, of course, create more and score more, but we lost in that moment a little bit of momentum and didn't get it 100% back and left the door open for Newcastle.
"In the end, with our situation, someone told me the last time we had a clean sheet away from home it was in April, so I'm happy.
"The goals we scored were perfect against 11. We played really well, but then against 10 we lost for a moment the grip and couldn't get it back. But we still had our moments where we should have scored more in the second half.
"After you score a third one it's definitely over. We didn't so we had to fight until the end, and we needed the long leg of James Milner, who was outstanding again. We are a step further forward.
"Both goals were outstanding. The pass from Trent [Alexander-Arnold] for Darwin [Nunez] and from Mo [Salah] to Cody [Gakpo] [was] top class. A bit more of that would have been really great, but for today it's absolutely fine.
"When you are not in your best moment you have to fight for this, and that's what we did, we got our second win in a row. It feels great to be honest. We haven't had this for ages so it's a good day.
"It's too early to say we are there again. But of course, we will keep fighting and we will see."
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Darwin Nunez of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC at St. James Park
Image credit: Getty Images
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was pleased with how his side kept themselves in the match after the series of early setbacks.
He said: "I thought it was actually a good performance in the main. We started really well. We had a good early chance and the crowd were in the game, the tempo was good and we were set for a really good match.
"I thought they were clinical with their chances when they came, and obviously Nick Pope's sending-off changed the game.”
He acknowledged the effect that Pope’s sending off had on the ‘keeper, who will now miss the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.
"I've not had a proper word with him but I've seen him and he looks visibly upset. He's been outstanding for us this season.
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Howe on Liverpool defeat: 'We were very good with 10 men despite harsh red card'
"It was probably technically handball but I don't know the rules on red cards outside the box. For me, it was a harsh reaction but I understand if it's in the rules. It's harsh for Nick because he's been magnificent for us, and to miss the next game is a huge blow for him.”
With Martin Dubravka cup-tied, Howe must decide which of his remaining two goalkeepers to pick.
He continued: "We've got a decision to make. Mark Gillespie has trained very well this season, as has Loris [Karius].
"There was real quality, we opened Liverpool up at times and created some real chances. That's the difference, they took their chances and we didn't take ours."
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