Rafa Benitez’s mini Istanbul halts Liverpool’s run
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.
Benitez’s unique place in Kop folklore rests on that most unlikely of recoveries from 3-0 down against Milan to win the 2005 Champions League final; recharging a relegation-haunted team to pilfer a point from 2-0 down at Anfield barely merits a mention on the same page.
But if Liverpool fans, their team cruising into a comfortable first-half lead, were already casting minds forward a few days, Klopp insisted in the aftermath of two more surrendered Premier League points that there was no question of a loss of focus.
“Did you see a team that was thinking about Villarreal?” he asked, picking over the debris of a missed opportunity to climb into sixth place, a guaranteed Europa League berth.
“We have enough time to prepare for Villarreal, that’s how I think.
“If you saw (Adam) Lallana after the game, he was a very disappointed player after the draw with Newcastle.
“Nobody was saying ‘now, come on, Thursday.’
“We are in a good moment still. I saw a lot of good things today.”
Lallana, replaced late on to a deserved ovation, was one of Liverpool’s eye-catchers in a first half that got off to an explosive start when Daniel Sturridge gave them the lead after just 78 seconds, chesting down Alberto Moreno’s ball before turning to shoot past Karl Darlow despite close attention from two defenders.
One England man having set the standard, another stepped up to put Liverpool firmly in the driving seat.
Lallana too benefited from Moreno’s use of the ball, completing an impressive build-up of passing play by carefully placing his sixth goal of the season in the top corner to leave Darlow helpless.
However, the half brought no further Liverpool score — although Newcastle defender Paul Dummett was fortunate not to concede a penalty for handling — and Benitez was able to rouse a side that, despite sitting in 19th place, had surprised Swansea and Manchester City in their two previous games.
He sent on Georginio Wijaldum to add a little fizz to the mix, but it was Papiss Cisse who inflicted the quick blow, three minutes after the restart, with a soaring far-post header from a cross by Vurnon Anita that Simon Mignolet never looked like reaching.
It gave Newcastle renewed heart and the effect was so startling, that the groaning home crowd were anticipating a further setback long before Jack Colback, the holding midfielder joining in his team’s assault on the Kop goal, delivered a shot from Andros Townsend’s cross that took a significant deflection off Dejan Lovren on its looping path past Mignolet.
“I told them we had nothing to lose at this time, and I changed the shape of the team,” said Benitez, quizzed over his half-time touch of magic.
“It was more or less the same idea; the credit has to go to the players for reacting. They knew we had to do better and put it right on the pitch.
“I think (now) they have the belief. We have to win the next three games.
“If we can play like we did in the second half, then fine. I know we have to improve on the ball, but if we have the same spirit, we can keep the momentum.”
Three Premier League games to complete an odds-defying rescue for Benitez. Three Europa League games for Klopp to join him on Anfield’s roll of managerial honour. Neither task will be easy.
Liverpool’s current manager has had to cope with absences all season — in-form Belgian striker Divock Origi will discover on Wednesday whether he needs ankle ligament surgery, scuppering his Euro 2016 dream — and Klopp is confident his roster is strong enough to cover the loss of fans’ favourite Sakho, who was replaced on Saturday by Kolo Toure, ironically banned himself for six months as a Manchester City player over similar fat-burning pills to those Sakho is alleged to have taken.
“The momentum is not about having the best squad ready to play,” said Klopp.
“Momentum is to be ready to fight. Villarreal also have had a lot of games, they have to fight in the league, they play after our game against Real Sociedad and have a little fight for the Champions League.
“We need to be prepared; it isn’t about always having the best players, but being perfectly prepared for our next game. Then, we can go on.”
He might have added: “And keep it up for 90 minutes.”
Mignolet (5); Randall (6) (Coutinho 5,71), Toure (5), Lovren (6), Moreno (6); Stewart (6), Allen (6) (Lucas 5,71); Milner (7), Firmino (6), Lallana (7) (Ojo 5,82); Sturridge (7).
Ward, Ibe, Skrtel, Smith.
Darlow (6); Anita (7), Mbema (6), Lascelles (6), Dummett (6); Colback (7), Tiote (6) (Shelvey 5,82); Townsend (6), Sissoko (6), Perez (6) (Wijaldum 6,46); Cisse (7) (Mitrovic 5,74).
De Jong, Aarons, Woodman, Mbabu.
A Marriner.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
