EVEN JURGEN’S ‘B’ TEAM IS TOO HOT TO HANDLE
EGO might play a big part in some Premier League dressing rooms, but not at Liverpool.
They have 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 by boss Klopp with just over 20 minutes left at St James’ Park – the German 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 let 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 injurytime charge upfield to get the ball.
In James Milner’s doggedness and
Diogo Jota’s selfless running and work rate.
No egos here, just sheer naked professionalism.
Make no mistake, this was a big three points for Liverpool in their battle for supremacy with Manchester City.
Pre-Howe’s arrival last November the only question before 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 before inevitably banking the points.
Whether the Quadruple is on or not, who knows, but rarely though have Liverpool had better weeks.
Beating rivals Everton last Sunday, putting one foot in the Champions League Final, surviving a banana skin at Newcastle and securing Klopp (left) until 2026, it’s little wonder Reds fans are in dreamland.
Such is the richness of quality throughout Klopp’s squad, 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 Klopp given the excellence at his disposal.
But Liverpool are playing football without a safety net right now – and their response on Tyneside was almost flawless.
Take newly-crowned Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year Mo Salah, assist king Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thiago out of most teams and you’d expect a dip in output.
Not on Klopp’s watch, though. Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Milner, Keita and Jota, who came in, aren’t Anfield’s biggest names. But they know the value of putting in a shift.
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 using their pace, laser-guided passing and work ethic.
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 Geordie defence to fire home after a slick one-two with Jota, Fabian Schar was still lying prone, clutching his leg after 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 midfield veteran – and Klopp’s stars were on their way to a 25th league win of the campaign.
More goals should have followed with Sadio Mane missing a golden chance to finish a Gomez tee-up while Jota, substitute Salah and Luis Diaz all could have scored.
Still, another one ticked off – and a chance for Klopp to freshen up again and wheel out his big boys from the start against Villarreal on Tuesday.