Liverpool’s Art of Late Goals: Klopp’s Mentality Giants

There’s late then there’s literally added time in extra time. It’s hard to conjure anything more up than Carvalho last season against Newcastle at Anfield, but this season especially has had the feeling of inevitability about the way they come. They’ve not always been at the death but Nunez’s last grasp strike is one of many that has set the narrative for this campaign. We rank the best last strikes from this season to date and there are some familiar names and games in there. See if you agree with our own rankings.

Trent Alexander-Arnold v Manchester City

Yes this wasn’t a last gasp winner by any means but how important this could be as the champions visit Anfield this weekend just a point behind. It was away from home, it was an early kick-off and it was against the English and European champions which made this as important. Liverpool had rode their luck largely in this game and the forward line hadn’t looked particularly threatening. However, the Scouser in the team had other ideas and when the ball was squared to him after the reds had broke, he struck the ball into the bottom left corner of Ederson’s goal with ten minutes left to play. Many had forgotten it, but that strike last November may prove to be massive.

Harvey Elliott v Crystal Palace

Another early kick-off but an even later strike this one. Liverpool just couldn’t get going all afternoon in this one and it looked disaster was looming when a dubious penalty against Quansah was given. However, a late Mo Salah strike one minute after the sending off of Jordan Ayew meant the reds looked like at least getting a point. Super sub Harvey Elliott was the lad we all looked to and when he cut inside and smashed it past the substitute goalkeeper, the travelling kop went absolutely wild. Roy Hodgson and his inevitable reactions followed but this made it all the more sweeter.

Darwin Nunez v Newcastle

This maybe the one that many have as their personal favourite, but it only makes number three in this list. That’s doesn’t diminish it in anyway though and it felt like the Uruguayan really announced himself in this one. With the reds down to ten men after the captain Virgil Van Dijk was sent off, most reds would have taken a point at best. However, having already equalised when finding the inside of the post from the right corner of the area, Nunez wasn’t done. Put through by Mo Salah with a few minutes to go, he lifted the ball over Pope and the away fans went insane. Combined with Allison heroics, this was a special day for many.

Trent Alexander-Arnold v Fulham

Another one that many will understandably have as their personal favourite and a more than worthy runner-up. The reds had looked tired in this Sunday game after a Europa League and were huffing and puffing against a Fulham side 3-2 up with a few minutes left to go. However, it wasn’t all Trent this one. Endo’s equaliser which he beautifully curled into the top corner shouldn’t be forgotten and may even be a goal of the season contender. However, having been pushed higher up in a desperate last effort, the Scouser in the team half-volleyed into the bottom left corner in the last minute to bring life to the description limbs. It felt special that day.

Darwin Nunez v Forest

Accuse us of recency bias if you want but don’t pretend you’ve not watched it on loop since Saturday lunchtime. Liverpool looked as though their injury crisis had finally caught up with them as they’d struggled to create anything of note most of the game. Kelleher has also kept them in it and all seemed lost when the final corner was cleared to the edge of the box. One Endo tackle, one deliciously dinked ball by Mac Allister and one Darwin header later combined to make it the moment of the season so far though and how big it felt. Let’s hope with City set to arrive this weekend at Anfield, we’re talking about something to rival it.