Liverpool’s minute of chaos: ‘Karma’, Van Dijk the cameraman and title hopes lit | Top Vip News

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A minute of chaos.

From the brink of a damaging stalemate to the euphoria of Liverpool’s last winning goal recorded in the Premier League era.

If Jurgen Klopp achieves the dream farewell and his team are crowned champions in May, the events of the 99th minute at the City Ground on Saturday will become part of the club’s folklore.

Liverpool were exhausted, fatigued and seemingly out of time and ideas against Nottingham Forest. Title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal fans were happily awaiting the imminent final whistle.

When Joe Gomez won a corner, Dominik Szoboszlai ran to take it. This was the last chance, but after Kostas Tsimikas’ shot was blocked, hope seemed to have been extinguished.

But not all. After Forest’s Callum Hudson-Odoi and Taiwo Awoniyi attempted to dribble out of the area, Liverpool managed a turnover thanks to a chasing Wataru Endo and the ball fell to Alexis Mac Allister, who coolly turned onto his left foot before cutting in an attractive Cross towards Darwin Núñez, who comes on as a substitute after missing the previous three games due to a hamstring injury. He sent a header past Matz Sels and sparked wild celebrations among players, staff and fans. The clock read 98 minutes 35 seconds.


Núñez heads Liverpool’s winning goal (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Titles are won on days like this and a dramatic victory ensured Liverpool stay top ahead of next Sunday’s decider against City at Anfield. This is the story of that epic ending.

Players

“No, no, no, the game wasn’t over, so I still had the belief,” captain Van Dijk insisted, sheltering from the rain, when asked if he had reluctantly accepted, already in added time, that that It wouldn’t be his day.

“Throughout my stay here we have shown that we never give up. We found a way. Darwin has been very important to us this season and it’s great to have him back. He is a great goal and in the end a well-deserved victory.”

It was the 18th time in the top flight that Liverpool scored a winning goal in the 90th minute or later during Klopp’s reign, more than any other team during that period.

Nunez’s knee slide was followed by him frantically kicking the advertising sign before his teammates mobbed him in front of the visitors’ field.


Núñez celebrates his goal (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

A popular figure in the dressing room, Núñez now has 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season. That’s one goal involvement every 87 minutes. In 2022-23, that figure stood at 124 minutes.

Tsimikas certainly had his hands full after the winner. He was responsible for removing a traveling red flare launched from the Kop from the pitch. A furious Forest fan then ran onto the pitch to confront the Greek international before being intercepted by home defender Murillo and the stewards.

It was telling that Szoboszlai went straight to Mac Allister and picked him up. What an assist from the World Cup winner, who has proven to be a huge asset since his departure from Brighton.

“We always believe, we always go the distance,” Mac Allister said. “Because it was the last minute, I knew I had to put in the center and then Darwin did a very good job.”

Van Dijk added: “Macca is an exceptional player with and without the ball. He has made a big difference in the way we play in a positive sense.”

The Liverpool captain was also involved in the chaos, taking a camera phone from a member of Liverpool’s media department parked in front of away fans and filming the celebrations himself.

He was also caught up in Forest’s angry protests after the final whistle, which saw manager Steven Reid show a red card. Referee Paul Tierney mistakenly returned the ball to Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher instead of the home team after stopping play when Ibrahima Konate was injured. The goal came one minute 50 seconds later.

“But there was a moment before the game when the exact same thing happened. Forest recovered the ball when we had possession when play was stopped,” Van Dijk highlighted. “When you lose at the last minute it is never pleasant. I can understand that. “We came here to get the three points and luckily we got them.”

The joyful chaos was summed up by the sight of Harvey Elliott wearing former Liverpool striker Divock Origi’s Forest shirt and carrying a delighted young fan in his arms.

Manager

Given the importance and timing of the goal at such a crucial stage in the title race, Klopp was relatively reserved with his celebrations after Nunez’s goal as he hugged his backroom staff.

There was no triumphant flurry of punches in front of the away team after the final whistle, but simply applause for their support. Relief seemed to be the predominant emotion as he hugged the match winner, Núñez. Klopp knew that any mistake after such a grueling week could have had major consequences. Liverpool’s first league victory at the City Ground since 1984 was beautiful.

“If you had told me 12 days ago that we could win all four games, I would have said there was no chance with the team’s situation,” Klopp said. “Now we need to regroup.” He talked about how his team lacks “rhythm” and feels the “intensity” of the last few games.


Jurgen Klopp greets Liverpool fans (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

The Liverpool boss compared this brave result to the 2-1 away win against Aston Villa in November 2019, when Andy Robertson and Sadio Mane scored late goals.

The following weekend, Liverpool beat Manchester City at home to clinch the title. How he would love for history to repeat itself.

Klopp highlighted the madness of rival fans who continue to shout “you’re an idiot Andy Carroll” in the direction of Núñez. He is getting used to silencing those taunts: he now has 28 goals in 79 appearances, including five winners this season, and has now equaled a club record of 21 goals from substitutes in a season, which was set in 2005-06. He gave Liverpool’s attack a focal point it previously lacked when he came off the bench against Forest.

“People singing that song more often is the best way to calm him down immediately, but they can sing it if Darwin responds like he did today,” Klopp said.

“At the last second, the guy who looks like an ex-Liverpool player thought: ‘Yeah, I’ll score a goal and decide the game.’ Marvelous. I am very happy for Darwin. He came in and was a real problem. The calmest man on the pitch was Macca with a super assist.

“I don’t think about the end of the season. “This group is special, we’ve known that for a while, but we don’t know what we get for it.”

visiting fans

For the 2,900 visiting fans at the City Ground, the scenes caused by Núñez’s goal were already being talked about as one of the great celebrations of all time.

“We were a group of six. Some finished two rows ahead when Darwin scored,” says Kristian Walsh, 37, hoarse but ecstatic, after completing the two-hour journey back to Liverpool.

“You see Darwin’s header fall and he loses all control. The 30 seconds that followed are a blur. You found yourself hugging people you didn’t know.

“Drawing 0-0 would have been detrimental against a team that was fighting for relegation, so to win it like that is huge. It’s the highlight of the season so far. Núñez’s last win at Newcastle with 10 men in August was incredible, but this one was more visceral. There is a title at stake. That goal makes you think ‘it’s on’. This guarantees that we will continue to be first when we face City. Anfield is going to be wild.”

There was a tongue-in-cheek rendition of Carroll’s song from the away side as Nunez was serenaded after the final whistle and ‘Allez Allez Allez’ played long after the home stands had emptied.

But for Tage Herstad, who has attended more than 1,000 consecutive Liverpool matches played in front of fans, there was poetic justice in Núñez’s latest intervention after some home fans had directed chants of “poverty” at the visiting contingent earlier in the day. the afternoon.

“It’s right up there with the best trips away from home in 20 years,” he said. “It was karma with her anti-Scouse songs. We all knew Darwin would do something when they sang Carroll’s song and he did it. Marvelous.”

A minute of chaos. A moment to treasure. Liverpool are still ahead.

(Top photo: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

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