Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits Sunday at Newcastle United was one of the great games of his career.
The Reds won 2-1 thanks to Darwin Nunez‘s late double after Virgil van Dijk was sent off midway through the first-half.
Klopp beamed: “I think in my 1,000 games as a coach or a manager I never had a game like this, that’s the truth. Not that we never turned games [around], we did that, but 10 men in an atmosphere like this against an opponent like this – it’s not that I can’t remember, I’m pretty sure it never happened because these moments are rare and super-special.
“But I thought the boys deserved it today because with 10 men we played better and gave Newcastle a proper game. Before that it was a bit wild with, obviously, advantages for Newcastle with the 1-0. We didn’t play calm enough, we felt under pressure when we wouldn’t have to.
“At half-time we showed the boys one situation, it was an offensive situation where Trent passed the ball behind the line to Cody Gakpo, where he comes from the left wing onto the right wing, where we can just get into their box and having finishing situations. Two things were clear at half-time, or three things have to happen: Trent cannot get another yellow card, we cannot concede a second, and if that happens then we have a chance.
“And the boys, they were ready to work super-hard and… I think before Darwin scored we had already chances. What I remember now is when Diogo passed to Mo, which unfortunately [was blocked], but we had our moments and that’s important, that’s important. I think a year ago [last season at St. James’ Park] we were in a similar situation, we were 2-0 up, then red card, then we didn’t play football anymore.
“So it is obviously difficult, it is not that easy, and I can imagine how Eddie [Howe] and Newcastle is feeling now, these things happen but usually you win anyway. That didn’t happen today because my boys kept believing and I am really happy about that.”