Jurgen Klopp declared Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Newcastle United a “massive result” but was left concerned about a shoulder injury suffered by Darwin Nunez.
The Uruguayan striker gave Liverpool the lead after 10 minutes at St James’ Park, with Cody Gakpo doubling it soon after.
Nick Pope’s red card in the 22nd minute for handling the ball outside his penalty area to deny Mohamed Salah a run on goal effectively ended it as a contest, though Newcastle were still able to fashion some chances to keep the visitors honest.
Speaking to Sky Sports after his team’s second league win in six days, Klopp said: “Massive result, clean sheet, two wonderful goals, and space for improvement, obviously.
“Wonderful goals, the red card would have been a wonderful goal as well probably. If Pope doesn’t get his hands on it, then Mo probably would have scored. I would have taken that [over the red card] to be honest.
“Against 10 men we didn’t react particularly well, in that moment we still had momentum and it was difficult to get back, and Newcastle had nothing to lose anymore, we could see that.
“Top team, top character, they threw everything on the pitch and we gave them too many set pieces, and with set pieces it is not important how many players you have on the pitch.
“If we had scored a third, I think that would have been it, but we didn’t so it was exciting until the end.”
Nunez was substituted after an hour following a clash with Kieran Trippier that left him holding his shoulder, which could potentially see him miss Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 first leg against Real Madrid.
“The most negative thing was that Darwin had to go off,” Klopp said. “He would have come off anyway but then he had something with his shoulder and so we’ll have to see how serious that is, hopefully not too much.”
The win moves Liverpool up to eighth in the Premier League, just six points off Newcastle in fourth, and Klopp is hopeful this victory could remind the Reds what they are capable of after also beating rivals Everton this week.
“You need results. That’s how it is,” he continued. “The boys need to feel it as well, that if you do this and that then you have a good chance to be on the right side of the result…
In the end I am really happy that we got over the line because so many things have happened to us this season, this time nothing really happened.
“We were not perfect but good enough to win the game and that’s what we did.”
