Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcântara believes his team failed in “the essence of sport” when they did not seal the win against Newcastle.
Thiago, of course, was discussing The Reds’ many missed chances in front of goal after going 1-0 ahead as early as the third minute. Mohamed Salah scored a beautiful strike to put Jürgen Klopp’s men ahead early doors. However, countless more missed opportunities from Sadio Mané, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, and Salah, meant Liverpool were hanging on for the three points come the dying minutes of the game. Newcastle managed to score not once but twice in injury time. The first goal was harshly disallowed for a handball against Callum Wilson. But Joe Willock’s strike did count and it was almost the last kick of the game, giving The Magpies a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
The result puts a serious dent in any top-four challenge Liverpool were hoping to mount over the next four weeks.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com after the disappointing result, Thiago said:
“We could for sure have scored a lot of goals in the first half but at the end, you are dominating the game, winning 1-0 so you have to close the game with 1-0. It’s the essence of the sport.
“Your aim is to win and we didn’t deserve to win this game because we conceded.
“It creates for sure a disappointment in the team [when chances aren’t taken]. We were in a high energy bringing the game in the first half, with chances.
“And when we don’t score it looks like the team comes down, but it didn’t happen – we tried to be in the mindset for the second half but we didn’t come through as we have to.”
Thiago was asked what Liverpool need to do differently to see out these kinds of matches:
“It’s about scoring goals. We scored very early and then we had plenty of chances to score more.
“If we score twice, the game opens for us and if we score we feel more comfortable with our game as well and the other team opens and we can even score more. But it is what it is. When you don’t score, you [can] concede.”
Looking ahead to Liverpool’s next outing – at Old Trafford on Sunday – Thiago commented:
“Every game is huge for us. It’s a great chance to be there, but we are not taking the chances to be in the top [four].
“Now we just have to rest a bit, rethink, and review this game because it will be a tough game next week.”
Liverpool are now four points behind Chelsea and the top four with five Premier League fixtures remaining this season.
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