Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool doesn’t deserve to play in the Champions League next year, after 1-1 draw with Newcastle

Liverpool’s match against Newcastle ended in a 1-1 draw. Liverpool acquired an early lead that lasted throughout the game only for them to be bested by the magpies in a last-minute equalizer.

Mohamed Salah’s early goal appeared to have put the champions on track for a vital three points as they chase a top-four finish at the end of a disappointing season. However, there was late drama when Liverpool failed to clear a long ball, and Joe Willock shot it past Alisson to rescue the point, scoring in the 95th minute.

In the stoppage time, Callum Wilson shot onto the goal that being block by Allison; Wilson struck again with a diving header poking it into the back of the net. Although, VAR thought differently and ruled that the ball came off his arm, disallowing it for a controversial handball.

Numerous efforts were made by Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, but out of the 22 shots, only one went in; the rest went over the bar or by the post or were blocked by Martin Dubravka.

Klopp told BT Sport, “If you deserve, you deserve it. I didn’t see us deserve it today playing Champions League next year.”

“We had to keep the ball. In a specific way, we don’t fight enough. Keep ourselves in a position where we dominated the game. We had 70% of the ball; we should have 80%. We created a lot of chances, didn’t score with them, so we have to create more. That is how it is. We don’t do that well at the moment.

“They fought for it, and we got nothing pretty much but a point. It feels like a defeat.” He added.

This outcome could be disastrous for Liverpool’s fight to secure Champions League football. They are in sixth place, and the draw reduces Liverpool’s chances to attain a top-four spot. The Reds are one point behind Chelsea and West Ham. They both play against each other on the same day after Liverpool’s match.