Jürgen Klopp admitted he couldn’t believe what his side had achieved over the past two weeks following Liverpool’s dramatic win over Nottingham Forest. Few could blame him for his incredulity.
Darwin Núñez struck in the 99th minute to secure a fourth successive win in three different competitions. The Uruguayan rose highest to head home Alexis Mac Allister’s chip deep into stoppage time, and ensure Liverpool will stay ahead of Manchester City going into next weekend’s crucial encounter at Anfield.
Klopp once again had a mountain of injuries to contend with heading into today’s game, although he did have the boost of having Núñez, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endō back from injury. Nevertheless, the Liverpool boss still had 10 players missing through injury at the City Ground, while the returning trio were only deemed fit enough to start from the bench.
It’s been very much the same story in recent games. The club’s youngsters have had to step up to the plate, with Bobby Clark making his first Premier League start against Forest, while Jayden Danns was given another opportunity from the bench.
Despite having so many players ruled out, Liverpool has managed to win the Carabao Cup, progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, and now holds a four-point lead at the top of the league ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal’s games this weekend. It’s a feat that has left the Reds’ manager in disbelief.
Reflecting on the win over Forest, Klopp told Sky Sports: “Most difficult game we played because of the circumstances. Four games in 11 days is really tricky with the squad situation we have.
“It was super special. You could see it didn’t go easy for us today in any part of the game. It’s so hard. How we have four wins, I can’t believe.
“Incredible assist in the very last second. Wonderful feeling. I’m really happy. I can’t ask for more than what the boys are doing.
“Next Sunday would be a massive game anyway. Before that we play a difficult game in Prague. We have to keep going, recover.”
Speaking to BBC Sport, Klopp added: “If you’d told me 12 days ago we would win all four games I would have said no chance, it was impossible. In the circumstances winning the games is ridiculous.
“We will recharge until the next game. It’s pretty special what the boys did. To get to that points tally was a big fight. It never was easy.”
It’s been quite an unbelievable couple of weeks. How Liverpool has managed to keep winning while its squad is falling apart is simply incredible. No wonder Klopp is in disbelief!
The biggest test awaits though. Next weekend’s game against City has all the makings of a potential title decider, and Liverpool will once again have to come through it with some of its biggest names missing. After the last couple of weeks though, anything is possible.
