Jurgen Klopp offered a master class in rotation, as his gamble in refreshing Liverpool’s four-man chase team paid off with a vital victory in Newcastle.
Nabi Keita’s goal in the 19th minute ensured that they continued to breathe in the gates of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. Klopp mixed his priorities in a match between the semifinals of the Champions League and Villarreal.
“The changes have been great, the selection game is so important,” said the Liverpool manager after making five changes in the country, which started the victory at home last week against Villarreal. “The team is the only reason we are where we are. All the boys are fully immersed in the situation.
“The boys who did not come in had to see their faces at the last referee signal. The band is exceptional, extremely talented and really good characters. ”
With Mohamed Salah and Thiago Alcantara in the starting line-up, Klopp included 36-year-old James Milner in his starting XI and remained to congratulate his “role model” after a series of six consecutive wins at Newcastle’s home.
Milner, a former Newcastle player, made his Premier League debut for Leeds almost 20 years ago and distinguished himself by returning to his former stamping position.
Asked if he had come across a 36-year-old fitter, Klopp said with a smile: “No, but it would be interesting to look at Luka Modric. And isn’t he 36? He was obviously a good generation. It’s hard to be better than Millie.
Jurgen Klopp during Liverpool’s victory. Photo: Peter Powell / EPA
“He is a role model. I told him, I can tell the whole world – nothing we have achieved in the last few years would not have happened without James Milner, it is so easy.
“Whether he was on the field or not, he set standards in a way that not many people can set, and that trained us all.
Millie played a great match today. I loved this game – and he played a huge role in it. “
As Milner helped Liverpool extend their unbeaten Premier League streak to 15 games, Klopp, who has just signed an extension to Anfield’s contract, highlighted the difficulties of competing on so many demanding fronts.
“It was incredibly difficult for the boys today, to be honest; we played two and a half days ago, “he said.” Under these circumstances, it was a top-class performance. We did 100% against a team in top form in a top atmosphere. I’m really happy. . ”
As Klopp turned his attention to Tuesday’s Champions League rematch in Spain, Eddie Howe was reminded that despite Newcastle’s radical improvement since succeeding Steve Bruce in November, much remains to be done.
“I would say there is progress,” said Howe, who once led an apparently doomed team away from the danger of relegation. “We have improved in many aspects of our game, but it also shows that there is a difference that we have to overcome to the best teams. But I’m not surprised by that – I don’t think it’s anyone else. We have work to do.
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“The biggest disappointment is probably individual. I don’t think we really excelled. The team was fine, we were in the game until the end, but to win these games, you need probably six or seven performers right at their highest levels, and that wasn’t there. It was close, but not close enough. We were not a real threat of a counterattack. We weren’t quite there. “
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