Reds ratchet up title tension

Thrilling triumph at Newcastle ensures Premier League race will be decided on final day

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his side can do no more to end a 29-year wait to win the Premier League after Divock Origi's late winner earned a thrilling 3-2 victory at Newcastle on Saturday despite losing Mo Salah to a head injury.

Salah was stretchered off 20 minutes from time, making him a doubt for Tuesday's Champions League semifinal, second leg against Barcelona, while Klopp confirmed Roberto Firmino will definitely miss the visit of the Spanish champion to Anfield.

Overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Barca now looks like an even more monumental task, but Liverpool is once more two points ahead of City.

The title, though, remains in City's hands as it has two games remaining to Liverpool's one. Whatever City's result at home to Leicester on Monday night, the title will be decided next Sunday, when the Reds host Wolves and City travels to Brighton.

"I accepted long ago we do everything we can," said Klopp, whose side has lost only once in the league this season. "Whether we will be champions or not is destiny because we cannot do more.

"Even in the draws we tried everything to win the games. The boys showed in each second they really want to win it."

Faced with a difficult balancing act to strike, Klopp made four changes to the side beaten by Barcelona last week.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of those recalled and the England rightback had an eventful evening at both ends.

His corner found Virgil van Dijk completely unmarked to open the scoring as Salomon Rondon slipped and the PFA's Player of the Year powered home his fifth goal of the season.

Newcastle had barely ventured over the halfway line in the first 20 minutes, but knotted the score on its first serious attack.

Matt Ritchie's driven cross was turned goalwards by Rondon, whose shot was saved on the line by the arm of Alexander-Arnold.

A penalty and a red card would likely have followed for the Liverpool defender had Christian Atsu not slammed home the rebound.

All of a sudden Newcastle looked the more dangerous side as Ayoze Perez turned van Dijk before smashing off the crossbar.

An enthralling first 28 minutes took another twist when Alexander-Arnold made the most of his reprieve to still be on the field with his second assist of the night.

His cross found Salah inside the area, but the Egyptian still had plenty to do as he cushioned a finish into the far corner on his weaker right foot to move two in front of Sadio Mane and Sergio Aguero in the race for the Golden Boot.

Ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez might have been taking charge of Newcastle for the last time at home as the Spaniard's contract runs out at the end of the season.

But his side did not go down without a fight as Rondon's sweet strike tied the score once more early in the second half.

"We will have conversations in the next couple of weeks. It is so simple, you can see the potential," said Benitez, whose four seasons at the club have been marred by a frosty relationship with owner Mike Ashley.

"I am really proud and pleased because we stayed up, but I would like to do something more."

Worse was to come for Liverpool as Salah was caught on the head by Martin Dubravka as the Slovakian goalkeeper raced from his goal to punch the ball to safety.

Salah was stretchered off, his hands over his face to applause from both sets of supporters.

"He got the hip of the goalie on his head," added Klopp. "When we came in he was sitting in the dressing room and watched the game. He looked fine, but we have to wait."

Without two thirds of their prolific frontline, the Reds would have been forgiven for thinking their chase of City was up.

But, not for the first time this season, Origi, who scored a 96th-minute Merseyside derby winner against Everton in December, came off the bench to net a vital late goal.

AFP