JURGEN GLAD THAT BIG YEAR IS OVER
JURGEN KLOPP admits he is looking forward to seeing the back of 2020 — even though it was the year that ended Liverpool’s long wait for a coveted league title. The Reds signed off 2020 with a goalless draw at Newcastle that leaves them top of the table heading into the new year, three points ahead of Manchester United, who have a game in hand. They meet at Anfield on January 17. Klopp insists their League position ‘doesn’t mean anything’ yet and is the ‘last thing’ he is thinking about. ‘I’m happy 2020 is nearly over to be honest,’ the Liverpool boss said. ‘Apart from becoming champions, it’s not a year I’ll think a lot about in the future. ‘I am 53 now and for about the last 30 years I have only ever wished at New Year for my family to stay healthy. That has never happened with more conviction than this year because that’s all I’m concerned about. ‘All other problems we can sort but what happened in 2020 is a new experience for all of us. 2020 had one highlight — becoming champions — and all the rest was big challenges.’ In the final game of this unusual year, Liverpool squandered a number of chances but were denied by a combination of wasteful finishing and a resolute Newcastle United rearguard. Karl Darlow made a number of brilliant saves to earn a share of the spoils for Newcastle, who are 14th. ‘Not scoring is a concern if you don’t create,’ Klopp added. ‘Against West Brom (Sunday’s 1-1 draw), we lost the plot a little bit. Tonight was a very good reaction, without getting the result. If we won 1-0 everyone is over the moon, we should have... but we didn’t.’ Liverpool welcomed Thiago Alcantara back from injury at St James’ Park but their defensive crisis goes on after Klopp revealed Joel Matip will be out for around another three weeks with a groin problem. Newcastle, meanwhile, ended another turbulent 12 months with a point that takes them eight clear of the relegation zone. ‘It is a great effort from us,’ Darlow said. ‘I have been desperate for a clean sheet, so hopefully we can keep the effort going.’ On talk that he could be in the mix for an England callup, he added: ‘I am aware of it, I know what is going on, I just need to carry on and hopefully that might happen.’ Manager Steve Bruce, who turns 60 today, added: ‘We rode our luck a bit but I couldn’t fault them to a man, they stuck at it and got the reward.’