They know something about close-run title races here. And they’re not too impressed by a 29-year wait to win it. Try 92 years since the last time you lifted the trophy that signifies you are the best team in England. That’s what they live with at Newcastle United.
That 12-point lead from 1996, when the title was there to be won, still runs like an unhealed scar through this place. And let it not be forgotten that Liverpool played their part in inflicting that the wound, defeating them 4-3 in the game of that season, a turning point in the race. So, there was history here.
They have lived through this kind of awful yet potentially wonderful climax to a season. Really, they should empathise. But football doesn’t work like that. Clearly St James’ Park was relishing the fact that Liverpool’s season seemed to be coming to end here.
Substitute Divock Origi scored a dramatic late winner as Liverpool beat Newcastle 3-2
They know something about close-run title races here. And they’re not too impressed by a 29-year wait to win it. Try 92 years since the last time you lifted the trophy that signifies you are the best team in England. That’s what they live with at Newcastle.
That 12-point lead from 1996, when the title was there to be won, still runs like an unhealed wound through this place. And let it not be forgotten that Liverpool played their part in inflicting that wound, defeating them 4-3 in the game of that season, a turning point in the race. So there was history here.
They have lived through this kind of awful yet potentially wonderful finale to a season. Really they should empathise. But football doesn’t work like that. Clearly St James’ Park was relishing the fact that Liverpool’s season seemed to be coming to end here.
It was 2-2. Mohamed Salah, so often their talisman, had departed, seemingly concussed. Roberto Firmino hadn’t even started the game. Divock Origi had been thrown on, so had Xherdan Shaqiri.
The Liverpool players are delighted after Origi's goal put them 3-2 up against Newcastle
Liverpool were effectively playing 4-2-4. Maybe it wasn’t desperate; it just felt that way. It felt as though this imperious season was crumbling.
Yet they will not be denied, this Liverpool team. They will take the title to the final day. They may even collect 97 points, lose one game and still not be champions. Origi and Shaqiri, the subs, saw to that.
With 85 minutes on the clock Shaqiri had swung in the free-kick and Origi provided the crucial header to keep that dream alive.
Maybe they will end up with nothing at all. But plenty of teams have won titles without being as glorious as this one. They have missed just one step all season.
Fans feared the worst as they saw Mohamed Salah go down in a heap against Newcastle
Their prize: they get to take it the wire. It’s not the title. But really, it is something extraordinarily special.
The notion that Rafa Benitez would do his old club — which he admittedly has loved
