Jurgen Klopp suggests Liverpool's late turnaround win with 10 men at Newcastle United may be the best of his managerial career.
Liverpool were a goal and a man down when Klopp brought on Darwin Nunez and 20-year-old debutant Jarell Quansah with just 13 minutes of normal time remaining.
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What followed next Klopp describes as special.
"I think in my 1,000 games as a coach or a manager I never had a game like this, that’s the truth," Klopp said.
"Not that we never turned games [around], we did that, but 10 men in an atmosphere like this against an opponent like this – it’s not that I can’t remember, I’m pretty sure it never happened because these moments are rare and super special."
What Klopp said at half-time
Klopp also revealed what he said to his team at half-time when their backs were up against the wall having come under intense Newcastle pressure.
"At half-time we showed the boys one situation, it was an offensive situation where Trent [Alexander-Arnold] passed the ball behind the line to Cody Gakpo, where he comes from the left wing on to the right wing, where we can just get into their box and having finishing situations," he explained.
"Two things were clear at half-time, or three things have to happen: Trent cannot get another yellow card, we cannot concede a second, and if that happens then we have a chance. And the boys, they were ready to work super hard."
Trent: It's one for the ages
Trent Alexander-Arnold in many ways personified Liverpool's win, struggling in the first half and being at fault for the opening goal, before showing great composure to avoid a second yellow card as the match wore on.
He says it was a match for the ages.
"It's unbelievable, it was something very special out there today," Alexander-Arnold said.
"We have made it difficult but out there we dug deep, we all pulled in together. It was something for the ages.
"It's one of our best performances since the manager's come in, and we've had some outstanding performances as a team, as individuals, but I think we'll look back on this game as something very, very special.
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"You dig together as a team. It sounds strange but almost going down 10 men, it brings the team tighter and closer together. It makes you stronger. You have to do the extra yards, you have to fill in the gaps, you can't switch off. We've all pulled together.
"The mentality at half-time is that you're not coming here and trying to score two goals straight away. You want to hang in [until] the last 10, 15 minutes, give yourself a chance and know that they'll get tired as well and you'll hit them on the counter. I think we've executed that game plan."
