POINTS Back-up stars keep Klopp in hunt for glory on four fronts
EGO might play a big part in some Premier League dressing rooms but not at Liverpool.
They’ve got some of the biggest names in the game yet, as captain Jordan Henderson and Jurgen Klopp’s back-up stars proved yesterday, all that matters is winning.
Henderson was hooked with just over 20 minutes left, Klopp deciding fresh legs were needed to protect the Naby Keita goal that had given Liverpool a slender lead against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle.
But there was no pouting, gesturing or hard stares at the bench from Henderson as Toon fans mockingly waved the former Sunderland star goodbye.
Instead, as he left the pitch, the skipper’s only message was to rev up his team-mates and to let his replacement Fabinho know what he expected in the vital minutes that remained.
As they say, there’s no ‘I’ in team. And it’s that ferocious focus and spirit that’s carrying Liverpool towards a historic climax to the season.
Evidence of it was all over the pitch. In Andy Robertson’s lungbusting injury-time charge upfield to get the ball.
In James Milner’s dogged determination and Diogo Jota’s selfless running and work-rate.
No ego’s here, just sheer naked professionalism.
Make no mistake, this was a big three points for Liverpool in their titanic battle for supremacy with Manchester City.
Before Howe’s arrival last November, the only question about this fixture would have been how many would Liverpool score.
Nowadays Newcastle, after six straight wins on Tyneside, are a different proposition and right until the end Liverpool needed to be vigilant.
The Quadruple is on and rarely have Liverpool had better weeks.
Beating rivals Everton last Sunday then Villarreal to put one foot in the Champions League
Final, surviving a banana skin at Newcastle and securing Klopp’s services until 2026, it’s little wonder Liverpool fans are in dreamland.
Such is the richness of quality in Klopp’s squad that making five changes as he did here barely alters the productivity and determination that runs through Liverpool.
Utilising his squad is no real gamble for the German given the excellence at his disposal.
Take newly-crowned Football Writers Footballer of the Year Mo Salah, assist king Trent AlexanderArnold and Thiago out of most teams and you’d expect a dip in output. Not on Klopp’s watch.
Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Milner, Naby Keita and Jota, who came in, aren’t Anfield’s biggest names. But they know the value of putting in a shift and every fibre of their grit and guile was needed at St James’ Park.
If there’s any criticism to be levelled it’s that they should have won by a few more.
After an energetic start by Newcastle, Liverpool took full control of the game once more using their pace, laser-guided passing and work ethic to create the platform for victory.
Still, Newcastle weren’t easy to break down and when the key moment came it was briefly shrouded in controversy.
Keita’s 19th-minute goal drew howls of protests from Newcastle fans, players and management alike.
As the twinkle-toed midfielder skipped through the Geordies’ defence to fire home after a slick one-two with Jota, Fabian Schar was still lying prone, clutching his leg after losing out in a challenge with Milner.
Andre Marriner rightly let the game flow and left it to VAR referee Mike Dean to sort out as boos and whistles rained down from the stands.
Replays clearly showed Milner won the ball and Schar was injured kicking the Liverpool midfielder – and Klopp’s stars were on their way to a 25th league win of the campaign.