Newcastle vs Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp finds peace in the storm as Reds brace for final gust

In a game of unscripted, outrageous entertainment, the Liverpool manager appeared to find an inner calm

At St James’ Park, the dugouts and the technical area is situated directly in front of the press box. This brings the reporter into closer contact with the managers than at any other ground now that White Hart Lane has gone, a venue where if one of the coaches had body odour you’d know about it.

The geography means you get to see and hear things you would not otherwise. It was interesting, for instance, when Matt Ritchie barged Mohamed Salah in the back just before half time. Earlier, Ritchie had applied his studs to the side of Salah’s foot. Jurgen Klopp was not happy and so, he turned to Kevin Friend and complained. This prompted Mikel Antia, Newcastle’s tall first team coach from the Basque Country, to approach Klopp – and Friend intervened. Klopp was simmering and he could not resist the opportunity when Antia had calmed down a bit – but only a bit – to remind him of Liverpool’s intentions. It was a cutting statement – potentially incendiary – which perhaps implied some Newcastle limitation. “Hey, sorry we are the ones trying to play football here,” Klopp said in a sort of casual, stooping way.

Liverpool are a loud bunch, maybe louder than other teams. In the first half, Salah was always telling Trent Alexander-Arnold where he wanted the ball. Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum were constant givers of information. In the second half, Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson were quieter – or stealthier – but Virgil van Dijk was closer and always audible. His voice was more of a boom. In his substitute role, James Milner rallied his teammates when it felt like the title was slipping away.

There was constant noise but in those moments, little of it was coming from Klopp. It might be tempting to look at his body language and assess that he was not as animated because of Liverpool’s predicament. It was 2-2, Salah had gone off injured with a serious looking head injury and it felt like all hope was draining from Liverpool’s season.

Maybe, though, Klopp was analysing: trying to come up with solutions. His hands were not in his pockets and instead for a while one was on his chin, as he stared into the middle distance seriously considering his options.

One of them was to introduce Xherdan Shaqiri, who has only featured in 22 minutes of football since February. It was from his free-kick that salvation came. When Liverpool’s winner flew in with four minutes of normal time remaining, a selection of former Liverpool players leapt from their seats in the press box. One was Robbie Fowler and another was Sander Westerveld. Jan Molby hugged his Danish co-worker a little way behind. Most of Liverpool’s technical staff were on the pitch by now, their fists reaching into the night air.

Klopp did very little. It was hard to tell whether he was too drained to react or whether, in the storm, he had actually found inner calm. Whatever his process, Newcastle had done their most to put Liverpool back in their box. Yet Liverpool – led by Klopp – had found a way to turn up the volume again.

It was another incredible game of unscripted outrageous entertainment, with Liverpool meeting problems and finding a way out. If they do not win the league, it is not because of heart or belief.

From behind Klopp, you really understand what makes this team tick. It is from this position you truly understand what motivates Liverpool's manager. He does not praise an excellent pass like Daniel Sturridge’s which set Sadio Mane racing away but he does when one of his midfielders wins the ball back having given it away, or when a striker like Sturridge shoots early, forcing opportunities rather than waiting for them.

Daniel Sturridge's time at Liverpool may well be nearing an end (Getty)

Sturridge’s performance against Huddersfield at Anfield eight days ago, indeed, had a whiff of MLS about it. His contract is up at Liverpool this summer and it won’t be renewed. Unless he takes a considerable pay cut, it’s difficult to see which Premier League club moves in for a player whose injury record has blighted the career of one of the most talented English forwards of a generation.

At Liverpool, he is paid £150,000 a week. When Klopp was appointed as Liverpool’s manager in October 2015, he saw value in the player who was one of those that impressed him the most in training his first weeks in charge. Acceleration was still just about a feature of his game back then and Klopp was surprised at how quickly he was able to free himself from defenders and able to get shots off before the goalkeeper was ready.

Here, Klopp was all over Sturridge - guiding Liverpool's oldest player through the game. He was without Roberto Firmino, of course, and now it looks as though he might be without Salah as well, he will probably need Sturridge to lead the line against Barcelona on Tuesday.

Sturridge receives advice from Klopp on the touchline (Getty)

Earlier this season, he delivered a starring role at Anfield when Paris Saint-Germain were beaten. Though he has produced little since, his influence at St James' Park grew as the game got older, dropping into a number 10 role and providing the passes for Liverpool's wingers to race at Newcastle's full backs. That is where Shaqiri's free-kick came from which defined the entire evening, pushing Liverpool's title challenge towards the final game of a remarkable season.

Sturridge is not a footballer who loses himself in a moment of passion but at the end, he was as boisterous as any of his teammates as they left the pitch, bear-hugging van Dijk then Fabinho. The noise of this Liverpool team was off the scale again. If Manchester City can turn it down, they will be marked as relentless champions.