Thiago Alcantara makes ‘unbelievable’ admission about Liverpool after Newcastle draw

Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara admitted that the 1-1 draw with Newcastle United felt like a loss after the Magpies last-gasp equaliser at Anfield.

The reigning Premier League champions were in front for over 90 minutes when factoring stoppage time after Mohamed Salah had fired them into a third minute lead.

However, Steve Bruce’s side – who had originally struck level in added on time through Callum Wilson only for his effort to be ruled out by VAR due to handball – finally secured a share of the spoils when substitute Joe Willock netted in the 95 th minute.

The result represented a blow for Jurgen Klopp’s men in their pursuit of Champions League football next season as they missed out on the chance to go into the top four.

Asked if the late draw felt like a defeat, Thiago told LFCTV : “It’s completely a defeat for us, it’s unbelievable the lack of competitiveness we had in the second half.

“For sure we could have scored a lot of goals in the first half but at the end we were dominating the game, winning 1-0.

“To close out the game at 1-0 is the essence of the sport, you have to end your games to win and in the end we didn’t deserve to win this game because we conceded a goal.”

Liverpool, who remain a point off the Champions League places but with their rivals having a game in hand, now have just five more matches to get their noses in front.

Thiago insists they’re not feeling the weight of expectation though.

He said: “It’s not a pressure, it’s a desire, we have the desire to win.

“Our body language does not look that way but we have that desire.

“We don’t have time to think about it though, we just have to restart and in the best shape ever.

“It’s about scoring goals. We scored early and if you score again then the games becomes open for us and we feel more comfortable with our game as well, the other team opens and maybe we can even score more.

“It is what it is when you don’t score, that’s what you receive.”

Liverpool must now sit and wait to see what happens between fifth placed West Ham United and fourth placed Chelsea – both a point above them – when they meet in a London Derby on Saturday evening before they return to action themselves away to old foes Manchester United on Sunday May 2.

Thiago said: “It was a big chance with Chelsea playing West Ham, they could draw or one will lose but to be in the Champions League we have to deserve it.

“Every game is huge for us and it’s a great chance to be there but we’re not taking the chance to be on top.

“Now we just have to rest a bit we think and review this game because it will be a top game next week (against Manchester United).”