Liverpool wanted to make a statement against Newcastle

Liverpool fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold said the team were eager to prove they had the mentality to overcome Newcastle United in a tricky fixture at St James' Park.

Divock Origi headed home an 86th minute winner that would seal a 3-2 win for Liverpool and ensure the title race goes down to the last day.

Newcastle twice equalized after Liverpool took the lead with two first half goals either side of Christian Atsu's 20th minute strike, which spared Alexander-Arnold a red card for a handball on the line.

Alexander-Arnold delivered the corner Kick that allowed Virgil van Dijk to open the scoring and out the cross in that set up Mohamed Salah in Liverpool's second.

Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is at the helm of Manchester City's next opponents Leicester City, whom Alexander-Arnold hopes can do Jurgen Klopp's men a favour.

Mohamed Salah during the 2019 English Premier League season. Photo: EPA/NIGEL RODDIS We wanted to make a statement and show that we have got the mentality to bounce back, put pressure back on Manchester City and hopefully Leicester will be able to do something for us on Monday night, Alexander-Arnold said after the match.

Liverpool's fullbacks have achieved a unique double by becoming the first pair of defenders from the same team to rack up double digit assists in the same Premier League season. Andy Robertson and Alexander-Arnold have both laid on 11 goals this season.

Robertson said after the match that Liverpool were fighting for something very special and were determined to keep up the Premier League title fight.

We're fighting for this club and something that's not been done in a long, long time. If that's not worth the cause, I don't know what is, Robertson told Sky Sports after Liverpool's win.

Klopp himself said that the title will now be decided by destiny. The manager says he is very proud of a team that have done everything they can to hunt down a first top flight title in the Premier League era for the club's legion of loyal fans.

I accepted long ago we do everything (we can), said Klopp, whose side have lost only once in the league this season.

Whether we will be champions or not is destiny because we cannot do more.

Even in the draws we tried everything to win the games. The boys showed in each second they really want to win it, the German said.

Manchester City play Leicester City on Sunday night, failure to win for Pep Guardiola's side will leave Liverpool in first place at the outset of the final day Sunday 12 May.

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