Now Jurg-gonna believe it – we’re gonna win league!
CELEBRATING before it’s over has never been Jurgen Klopp’s style.
But the Liverpool boss looked like he broke his own rule after fist-pumping his way off the pitch after this crucial victory over Bournemouth.
The Kop, of course, loved it.
And Klopp might now just have to forgive Reds fans if they start popping champagne title corks prematurely, with a ban on fans attending games looming large.
After waiting 30 years for the title Liverpool are now just three wins from their Holy Grail.
But if the coronavirus threat escalates Liverpool might end up clinching the title – possibly at The Etihad against Manchester City on April 5 – in an empty stadium.
After waiting for their moment in the sun for three decades, that would be the cruellest of all blows for Kop fans desperate to fully embrace their first ever Premier League crown.
And don’t even mention the open-top bus ride round the city.
Whatever happens, though, this has been an extraordinary season for Liverpool who are now 25 points clear of Pep Guardiola’s City, who play the Manchester derby at Old Trafford today.
And after this squeaky-bum win over Bournemouth it’s safe to say this title race is well and truly over.
Liverpool fans know it’s a question of when not if and a rousing rendition of ‘We’re gonna win the league’ rang around Anfield at the end.
So who would blame them for starting the party early?
After coming from behind to take the lead against Bournemouth yesterday Klopp and his assistants looked like they were breaking their own “one game at a time” mantra.
Running jumps of glee and raucous screams of joy from the bench greeted Sadio Mane’s goal to put Liverpool 2-1 ahead and restore order for a club seemingly undergoing a mild panic attack.
Not that Liverpool lack belief, but Klopp knew the best way to stamp on any creeping doubt was to beat Bournemouth. And they did. Just.
The wheels may have wobbled slightly with defeat at Watford but there’s never been a serious threat that the title won’t be heading to Anfield.
Until recently they’ve been an unstoppable force with a desire and game-plan that’s been unbeatable.
After losing twice in four days the last thing the Kop wanted was another dose of the jitters.
But Bournemouth’s shock start had Anfield in full handwringing mode as Eddie Howe’s men took a ninth-minute lead.
Callum Wilson appeared to shove Joe Gomez in a foot-race for the ball but the move was waved on by referee Paul Tierney and ended with Wilson tapping in Jefferson Lerma’s cross.
VAR reviewed the goal but saw nothing wrong to Klopp’s anger, although Mane’s cool 33rd-minute finish from Virgil van Dijk’s killer pass soothed his nerves.
But in a season of excellence – the enduring image may well be the sight of veteran James Milner making a goal-line clearance from Ryan Fraser that brought the house down.