Klopp leaves title hopes to ‘destiny’ as Liverpool climb back on top

NEWCASTLE, United Kingdom (AFP) — Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp believes his side can do no more to end a 29-year wait to win the Premier League as Divock Origi’s late winner earned a thrilling 3-2 victory at Newcastle yesterday, despite losing Mohamed Salah to a head knock.

Salah was stretchered off 20 minutes from time, making him a doubt for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona, while Klopp confirmed Roberto Firmino will definitely miss the visit of the Spanish champions to Anfield.

Overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Barca now looks an even more monumental task, but Liverpool remain in the hunt for the Premier League title.

The title remains in City’s hands as they have two games remaining to Liverpool’s one.

However, in a recurring theme of a thrilling title race, Liverpool dug deep later on to continue asking questions of the champions by moving two points ahead of City once more.

“I accepted long ago we do everything (we can),” said Klopp, whose side have lost only once in the league this season.

“Whether we will be champions or not is destiny because we cannot do more,” he added.

Faced with a difficult balancing act to strike, Klopp made four changes to the side beaten by Barcelona in midweek.

Trent Alexander-arnold was one of those recalled and the England right-back was to have an eventful evening at both ends.

Alexander-arnold’s corner found Van Dijk completely unmarked to open the scoring as Rondon slipped and the PFA’S Player of the Year powered home his fifth goal of the season.

Newcastle had barely ventured over the halfway line in the first 20 minutes, but levelled with their first serious attack.

Matt Ritchie’s driven cross was turned goalwards by Rondon, whose shot was saved on the line by the arm of Alexander-arnold.

A penalty and a red card would likely have followed for the Liverpool defender had Atsu not put home the rebound.

All of a sudden Newcastle looked the more dangerous side as Ayoze Perez turned Van Dijk before smashing off the crossbar.

Without two thirds of their prolific front line, Liverpool would have been forgiven for thinking their chase of City was up.

But, not for the first time this season, Origi, who scored a 96th minute winner against Everton in the Merseyside derby in December, came off the bench to score a vital late goal as he got his head to Xherdan Shaqiri’s free kick.