Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp rated Sunday's comeback win over Newcastle as "more difficult" than when the Reds overturned 3-0 aggregate deficit against Barcelona in the Champions League en route to lifting that trophy in 2019.
Two goals from substitute Darwin Nunez in the final stages at St James' Park sealed what had been an unlikely victory ever since Virgil van Dijk was sent off in the first half. In fact, the first of Nunez's brace, in the 81st minute, was Liverpool's first shot on target since losing their captain.
Compared to the Barcelona game, which was a 4-0 win over 90 minutes at Anfield to prevail on aggregate, this was a turnaround in a much shorter timeframe and in front of a hostile crowd.
"It was much more difficult than the Barcelona game,” Klopp said to Sky Sports.
"That was at home and we played a sensational first game that was lost 3-0 but learned a lot about ourselves and knew we could hurt Barcelona if we defended them properly.
"This was completely different. We didn't start well, conceded a goal and a red card. We actually played better from that moment on with much more control. Newcastle struggled to create as we were more compact and fought really hard.
"At half-time, we said if we can turn this around it would be something to tell the grandkids - I see mine in ten days, so I will tell them. I have no clue what it means [for the rebuild] but in this moment, with my history of over 1,000 games I've never had something like that in that way, at Newcastle, with that atmosphere - it's crazy. I've never had that."
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Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was arguably fortunate not to be sent off even earlier than Van Dijk after fouling Anthony Gordon moments after already being cautioned, had similar thoughts.
"It was unbelievable," the Liverpool right-back said, via The Guardian.
"We had to do it the hard way, the very hard way. We made it very difficult but we dug deep and it was one for the ages. We will look back on this game as something very special."
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This article was originally published on 90min as Jurgen Klopp makes surprise claim about Liverpool's comeback win at Newcastle.
