Rafa Benitez’s mini Istanbul halts Liverpool’s run

Liverpool 2 Newcastle 2

Klopp’s depleted forces, now a further man down with centre-half Mamadou Sakho sidelined while Uefa investigate a failed drugs test, face Villarreal of Spain on Thursday in the first leg of the semi-final of the Europa Cup, knowing that victory in the final in Basle on May 18 would mean a return to the Champions League.

And after Istanbul, of course, anything is possible.