IIn the third minute of stoppage time, Jürgen Klopp took a deep breath. The gate didn’t count. The opponent’s goal. It didn’t count because Newcaslte United striker Callum Wilson jumped the ball to his hand in the 1-0 score for Liverpool FC just before the final whistle. The ball came from close range, ricocheted off Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, whom Wilson had shot shortly before and which Wilson actually overcame shortly afterwards. In between, however, and the video assistant saw it, he touched the ball with his hand, even if he hardly had a chance to prevent it. The referee had to make a decision. And he hit one: the goal that equalized the table-16. in stoppage time didn’t count.
–
–
–
In the fifth minute of stoppage time, however, there should have been only four minutes, Liverpool coach Klopp suddenly stood on the sidelines with an expressionless expression. There was horror around him. Next door, in his opponent’s coaching zone, hectic broke out. The coach and substitute player jumped up and stormed onto the field, towards Joe Willock, who sprinted towards them with wild cheers. After 94 minutes and 57 seconds, the 21-year-old Briton had managed what, after the excitement shortly before in the stadium on Anflied Road, hardly anyone had thought possible. After a high pass to the top, Willock scored 1-1 with the last action of the game, this time the goal also counted, and Liverpool was shocked.
Because this draw, which had to feel like a defeat for Klopp and his professionals after the early lead by Mohamed Salah (3rd), meant another major setback for the “Reds” in the fight for the Champions League qualification. Sixth place in the table with four points behind fourth place, which still entitles to participation in the premier class, could be too little in the season’s final spurt. “As far as I can remember, we were lucky for the first time with the VAR (video assistant, d. Red) and then we didn’t accept the gift, but gave them another one,” said Klopp angrily later. “The frustration is 150 percent. It’s hard to take. ”And that’s not all. The German went on to say: “I didn’t see today that we deserve to play the Champions League next year.”
Chelsea FC, coached by Thomas Tuchel, is currently on the important and decisive fourth place in the Premier League. Why? Because the “Blues” won 1-0 in an important duel with their previous neighbors West Ham United. The decisive goal in this London derby was scored by national player Timo Werner, which made his coach visibly happy. But the joy about the victory should have been even greater, because it brought an advantage of three points over the now fifth-placed West Ham.
Things are going much worse for Arsenal FC. A self-proclaimed super club for the Super League, one that counts itself among the European elite. But the reality is different: After the 0: 1 against FC Everton, in which goalkeeper Bernd Leno made a serious mistake, the “Gunners” are tenth in the table with just 46 points, with a two-game lead Followers Aston Villa, who is only two points behind. In the coming season, international business, i.e. that for the teams that qualify for it, will most likely take place without Arsenal.
– .
