Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United on Sunday was “more difficult” than their Champions League comeback against Barcelona in 2019.
Liverpool were trailing 1-0 and down to 10 men after Virgil van Dijk was sent off but substitute Darwin Núñez scored twice in stoppage time to salvage a thrilling victory.
Liverpool stunned La Liga giants Barca with a stunning 4-0 win at Anfield en route to winning the 2019 Champions League, but Klopp finds the task at Newcastle far more difficult.
“It was much more difficult than the game against Barcelona,” Klopp told Sky Sports as quoted by ESPN.
“It happened at home and we played a sensational first game losing 3-0 but learned a lot about ourselves and know we can hurt Barcelona if we defend them well.
“It’s completely different. We didn’t start well, conceded a goal and got a red card. We actually played better since then with more control. Newcastle struggled to create chances because we were more compact and fought so hard.”
“At half-time we said if we can turn things around then this will be something we will have to pass on to our grandchildren – I will see in 10 days, so I will tell them,” he added.
“I don’t know what it means [to rebuild] but at this moment, with my history of over 1,000 games, I’ve never experienced anything like that, at Newcastle, with that kind of atmosphere – it’s crazy. I’ve never experienced it, it’s special, what does it mean? I do not know. Next week is Aston Villa, which is strong so we have to be ready.”
The Liverpool coach also praised Nunez for his role as a substitute after the Uruguay international scored his first goal of the new season.
Despite impressing in pre-season, the 24-year-old has yet to make a start this season but Klopp reckons he will have more opportunities after the win.
“Obviously what I said to Darwin had no effect on his performance,” Klopp told reporters in his post-match press conference.
“Pep Lijnders could talk to him and that’s what he did, I just gave him a hug and pushed him to come out and fight for the team.
“That’s it. Darwin, we’ve had that before, he wasn’t happy not to start, that’s how it is, but somebody, in the early stages of the season, can’t start. We can’t have 11 players and play them all the time, so we need to find some stability in the discussions… I don’t know if the public is discussing it but of course the players are not happy [when they don’t start].”
“But after the international break we play every three days and nobody can play all the games so we have to make sure we have different options. And we needed to invent a new way to play football and, of course, Darwin could do that. be a super part of it.”
“His main strength is great, of course, but we also need to find stability. So for him everything will be fine but maybe it has to be like this – if he doesn’t get so mad and start it.” today’s game, he’s not going to score two goals in the last six minutes or whatever, so just think of it that way.”
