The first goal from a Liverpool goalkeeper in their 129-year history put their fate in their hands and suggested destiny is on their side.
Jurgen Klopp drew on his native tongue to argue that Alisson Becker's 95th-minute header at West Bromwich Albion does not mean they are bound to return to the Champions League.
“One of the lessons I learned very early in my life is don’t celebrate the day before the night,” he said. It was, he said, a translation of a German phrase – "Den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben" – as Klopp sought to reframe Liverpool’s quest to finish in the top four.
It is less an inevitability, more something they have to earn, even if they now have the momentum, something that has propelled his team in the past.
Wins at Burnley on Wednesday and at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday should enable Liverpool to realise their ambitions.
“It doesn’t make the job easier at Turf Moor but it changed the mindset,” said Klopp. “It kept us in the race. It was a very special moment, a very special goal from a very special player.
"In the dressing room I have never watched a goal more often directly after the game than this goal. In this moment, it looked like it was meant to be but if we finish the season now we are fifth so that doesn't make too much sense. We only qualified for the semis.”
Even that feels an achievement. Liverpool’s recent run has been camouflaged by their exit from the Champions League and their involvement in European Super League.
West Brom 1 Liverpool 2: player ratings
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WEST BROM RATINGS: Sam Johnstone - 6. The goalkeeper could not have prevented either goal and made some good saves as Liverpool turned on the pressure. He was let down by his markers at the end. Getty -
Darnell Furlong - 6. The 25-year-old made a series of blocks and largely kept Robertson’s raiding to a minimum. He threw his body about to stop danger. PA -
Semi Ajayi - 6. The centre back was strong in the air in both areas. He thought he had set up a second-half goal to give his side the lead but it was ruled out for offside. There will be questions for both centre backs about how Alisson could stroll into the area unmarked for the winner. Getty -
Kyle Bartley - 6. The centre back ended up battered and beaten with a cut over his eye. His header to clear Mane’s curling shot characterised his last-gasp defending. He was unfortunate to have a goal ruled out for offside but should have been aware of Alisson’s threat. EPA -
Conor Townsend - 5. A difficult afternoon for the 28-year-old. He never got to grips with Alexander-Arnold or Salah and was poor on the ball. AP -
Matt Phillips - 5. Found it hard to get into creative areas. His biggest contribution to the game was taking up an offside position and blocking the view of Alisson, a move that lead to Bartley’s goal being ruled out. PA -
Conor Gallagher - 5. The 21-year-old never got close enough to Thiago, who was able to take his time and pick his passes. He ran a lot but too often arrived late when the ball had gone. PA -
Okay Yokuslu - 5. The Turk was lucky to get away with a poor touch when Firmino hit the bar. He did little of note and was withdrawn in the 75th minute when Livermore entered the game. Reuters -
Grady Diangana - 4. The 23-year-old’s aimless challenge played the ball into the path of Mane to set up Salah’s equaliser. He struggled to impose himself and was replaced by Maitland-Niles with 17 minutes left. EPA -
Matheus Pereira - 6. The Brazilian supplied the clever ball for Robson-Kanu to open the scoring. He wasted a good counter-attacking situation by shooting when he had passing options. Better decision-making would have made him more threatening. AP -
Hal Robson-Kanu - 7. The Welsh striker was making his first start in four years but looked anything but rusty when scoring the opening goal. He had another two chances but dwelt on the ball for the first and was closed down by Alisson on the second. Replaced by Grant with eight minutes left. AP -
SUBS: Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 5. Brought on for Diangana in the 83rd minute to see off Liverpool’s late charge. He provided some extra energy but little craft. PA -
Jake Livermore - 5. Replaced Yokuslu with 15 minutes left to bolster the rearguard action. He needed to be more composed in possession. Reuters -
Karlan Grant - 5. Sent on in place of Robson-Kanu with eight minutes left. Never troubled the Liverpool back line and was not effective holding up the ball. Getty -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 9. The goalkeeper has often saved Liverpool but this was the first time he has been a goalscoring hero. It might have been the most important strike of the season for Jurgen Klopp’s team as it keeps top four hopes alive. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8. The 22-year-old’s passing and crossing were good and his defensive work was impressive, too. Robson-Kanu might have restored Albion’s lead if not for the full back’s awareness. He could have scored with a late chance but shot over the bar. PA -
Nathaniel Phillips - 6. The centre back lost track of his position on a number of occasions and played Robson-Kanu onside for the first goal. A nervy performance, although he improved as the game went on. AFP -
Rhys Williams - 5. The 19-year-old got sucked into the midfield for the opening goal and his inexperience showed. He was good in the air but less assured on the ground. Taken off in the 84th minute for Wijnaldum as Liverpool chased the win. EPA -
Andrew Robertson - 5. The Scot looked weary and his attacking forays were rare. He was forced to defend and was not as assertive as usual. EPA -
Fabinho - 7. The Brazilian broke up Albion attacks and moved the ball forward quickly. He shifted position to centre back for the closing stages. Getty -
Thiago Alcantara - 8. The 30-year-old influenced the tempo of the game and his passing forced the opposition midfield to chase the ball. One of his best games since arriving at Anfield. Reuters -
Curtis Jones - 5. The 20-year-old worked hard and went looking for the ball but was unable to have any real impact on the game. He was withdrawn for Shaqiri in the 59th minute. PA -
Mohamed Salah - 7. The Egyptian pounces on the slightest mistake by a defence and his goal was a great example of his sharpness. He worked hard to add a second to his tally but was upstaged by Alisson. Reuters -
Roberto Firmino - 6. The Brazilian hit the bar and squandered two second-half chances but his intelligent movement and passing impressed at times. PA -
Sadio Mane - 5. The Senegalese shot wide in the first half but his buzzing presence was a worry for the defence and he teed up Salah’s goal. He lost his way in the second half. AP -
SUBS: Georginio Wijnaldum - 5. The Dutchman was introduced for Williams in the 84th minute to add some forward thrust. He shot from the edge of the box but his effort flew over the bar. Reuters -
Xherdan Shaqiri - 6. The Swiss replaced Jones in the 59th minute and saw plenty of the ball. He showed some clever touches but rarely looked like opening up the packed defence. AP
The late equalisers they conceded to Leeds and Newcastle felt the blows that would finish them off. But added-time winners from Trent Alexander-Arnold against Aston Villa and Alisson at the Hawthorns form part of a revival.
Liverpool have taken 20 points from eight games. Before their victory at Wolves, they were closer on points to Crystal Palace and Wolves than Chelsea. "The situation changed in our direction with a number of results," Klopp said. "Four, five or six weeks ago no one would have imagined we could get that close but being close is not being there."
Liverpool’s season has been an obstacle course, the hurdles provided in part by a freakish collection of injuries and featuring the historic low of six consecutive home defeats. Klopp still has a small cast list, even if Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is back in contention on Wednesday, James Milner might be and there is a “tiny little chance” that Diogo Jota will be able to feature on Sunday.
But Klopp feels they are coping with adversity better. “The season was a proper teacher on how to deal with setbacks and we learned, so missing chances in the last few games did not have the same impact that it had before,” he said. “That is the main difference. The form of players came in the right moment. Results always help. We are seeing the finishing line.”
Thiago Alcantara has produced the best form of his Liverpool career. “What he did in these moments is absolutely incredible,” Klopp said.
Mohamed Salah has scored in five of those eight league games, taking his tally to 31 for the season. He celebrated Alisson’s winner more euphorically than most of his, but if it answered questions about his future, Klopp added: “I was never in doubt about his love for his team-mates or the club, not for one second.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold has emerged as a leader. “He played with round 20-odd different centre-half pairings which is just tricky,” his manager said. “But Trent made another step in his career.” For Liverpool, the task is to make two more steps.
