Wijnaldum magic helps Klopp over finish line
IN THE end it took just one pure strike of a football to change a game, a season and, who knows, maybe a future. It came from the right foot of Georginio Wijnaldum and it almost took the roof off the net at the Kop End.
Deep in stoppage time at the end of the first half, this was threatening to turn into one of those sapping, frustrating and ultimately highly-damaging Anfield afternoons that we have seen recently.
Middlesbrough were camped in their own half, essentially six across the back when they didn’t have the ball and Liverpool could not find a way through.
With the ghosts of recent failures here against Crystal Palace and Southampton seemingly lurking round every corner, Jurgen Klopp’s players looked inhibited and anxious.
In the stands, they checked their phones grimly. Arsenal winning, Man City winning, Liverpool out of the Champions League places.
So when Nathaniel Clyne and Roberto Firmino combined on the right-hand side, Wijnaldum was clear on goal but the angle was tight and the Dutchman had, up until that point, not had a particularly good game.
A pass inside would have been the safe option. But when the stakes are high, sometimes it takes a little courage to get things done and so it was that Wijnaldum placed his faith in his own technique and tore a rising shot up beyond Brad Guzan in the Middlesbrough goal.
It was a magical moment, a moment that a stadium felt fear lift from its shoulders.
It didn’t win the game on its own but it changed the game and Liverpool’s destiny.
But boss Klopp says the hard work has just begun for the fivetime European champions.
‘Everything feels good at the moment,’ said Klopp. ‘It is the best tournament in Europe. Maybe the world. Liverpool needs to be there consistently. In the last 10 years, Liverpool was not part of it often. We should do everything to change this.’
Wijnaldum gave Liverpool the confidence and the space to take Middlesbrough apart in the second half. Liverpool scored two more through Philippe Coutinho’s low curling free-kick and Adam Lallana’s effort but could have scored a few more as they finally grabbed the fourth-placed Premier League finish that was a minimum requirement at the start of Klopp’s first full season.
A place in the Champions League changes everything.
Liverpool still have a qualifier to negotiate but the prospect of a place in the blue riband competition will help them buy players and keep players. It makes them more attractive and it lends them financial clout.
Since the scoreless draw with Southampton that looked so damaging two weeks ago, Liverpool have scored seven without reply.
As such, they are in the Champions League on merit.
Klopp was proud of their points total and he can’t wait to get going for next season.
‘We deserve this position, 76 points is outstanding,’ said the German. ‘Usually at the end of the season, you are tired but I am already looking forward to it.’
The game, however, may not have had such a successful conclusion had referee Martin Atkinson awarded a penalty when the score was 0-0. Patrick Bamford looked to have been fouled by Dejan Lovren but his claims were waved away.
Middlesbrough’s caretaker manager Steve Agnew said: ‘Our spirit is dented but we want to get the club back up.’