Liverpool ride their luck but game of fine margins remains wide open | Louise Taylor


Rafa Benítez stood in the way of Jürgen Klopp’s title challengers but fate had other plans on a topsy-turvy night at St James’ Park

Lunchtime was fast approaching when Liverpool’s morning charter flight taxied towards the private terminal adjacent to Newcastle airport. Travelling Premier League teams do not usually touch down with only hours to spare before kick-off but, right now, almost every conceivable margin is becoming uncomfortably tight for Jürgen Klopp and his players.

With a domestic title and an improbable Champions League semi-final comeback to pursue, Liverpool are all out of wriggle room and it is not only their travel schedule that is being squeezed. On the pitch there is no room for error; not when Klopp’s team headed back to the airport for their return flight with the joy of having climbed two points clear of Manchester City tempered by the latter’s game in hand at home to Leicester on Monday.

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