Jordan Henderson admits Liverpool need to “pray for a miracle” now.
Henderson and co have taken this title race to the last game of the season — and he warned favourites Manchester City there might be a last “twist and turn” to come.
Liverpool are the team who refuse to give up on their dream.
Next Sunday, Jurgen Klopp’s side will take their points to 97 if they beat Wolves at Anfield next Sunday.
And if that’s not good enough, they’ll be the best champions the Premier League never had.
Henderson’s “miracle” - he used the word twice as he climbed onto the team bus outside St James' Park on Saturday night after his Reds' scored in the 84th minute to finally beat a Newcastle side that had equalised twice – requires Man City to drop points either at home to Leicester on Monday or away to now-safe Brighton in their final game.
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In other words, new Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers gets another chance to help Liverpool win a title after his own near-miss as their manager five years ago.
Henderson is considering sending him a text asking for a favour, but he surely won’t need any encouragement.
“To be fair to us, we’re putting up a great challenge," said the England midfielder. "City are a great team, but so are we. We’ve competed right to the very end.
“Whoever gets it will deserve it.
"From our point of view, we couldn’t have done any more. It’s going to the last game and we need to finish on a high at Anfield and then pray that something, a miracle, can happen.”
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Will the players sit down on Monday and cheer for Leicester, like the Liverpool fans will?
Henderson said: “We’ve got a game on Tuesday. Barcelona, a big game and we’ll have to focus on that... but I’m sure the lads will watch the game. Yeah, like I say, pray for a miracle.
“Leicester, who are a great team, will go and give everything — like you saw [on Saturday] from Newcastle. I’m sure Brighton will. I’m sure Wolves will. Everyone wants to cause an upset, so hopefully there are another couple of twists and turns to come.”
Since Liverpool started their eight-game league winning run on March 10 against Burnley they and City have taken it in turns to record victory.
Liverpool have won MORE points than any of Man Utd's Premier League title glories
They’ve got their win in first on this penultimate round of matches, increasing the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side... who have won 19 of their last 20 games, not losing since a shock 2-1 loss away to Newcastle on January 29.
We are witnessing near-perfection... and not from one dominant side, but two. It would be cruel to call the club who finishes second losers.
For the neutral it is compelling. For the Reds’ fans it must be excruciating.
And for the Liverpool players?
“We’re enjoying every week fighting and performing and playing the way we’re playing," said Henderson. "We’ve given everything. I couldn’t have asked any more of the lads. Everyone has been fantastic.”
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Ridiculously, the Reds will end the season empty-handed if City keep winning and Barca defend their 3-0 Champions League semi-final advantage from the first leg in Tuesday's decider.
Henderson said: “We’re not stupid. We know it’s a massive task and I’m sure everybody expects that Barcelona will advance. We can have no regrets about they way we go for it this week.”
How have they taken it to the wire?
“That comes from the belief in the squad,” he added. “We’ve always said is that we’ll keep going right to the end, no matter what happens.”
They’ve delivered on that side of their bargain.
Now, about that Rodgers-inspired miracle...
