Salomon Rondon was Newcastle United’s man of the match on Saturday.
Leading the line superbly, the number nine scored an excellent goal to level the game at 2-2.
Not deserving to be on the losing side, Rondon was cheated out of an earlier goal when Trent Alexander-Arnold deliberately handled on the goalline, Atsu scoring as play continued.
Salomon Rondon and the Newcastle fans left wondering if they’d have been better off with a penalty and the opposition reduced to 10 men, Liverpool only 1-0 up at that time in the first half.
The Venezuelan striker has now been interviewed by Spanish media, asking about his own future, as well as Liverpool’s chances of overturning Barcelona’s three goal advantage tonight. The Newcastle striker well known to Spanish football fans, having played four seasons for Las Palmas and Malaga early in his career.
For Liverpool, Salomon Rondon believes that they still have a chance, even if it is a remote one. The loan striker pointing to the fact that their strong squad allowed them to bring both Shaqiri and Origi off the bench to combine for the winner on Saturday.
The forward says he is ‘satisfied’ with his season at Newcastle, having been directly involved in 17 of Newcastle’s 38 Premier League goals. Scoring 10 with seven assists, his previous best was 11 (nine goals and two assists) in a season (2015/16) with West Brom.
Asked about what will happen now the season ends, Salomon Rondon says he is looking forward to the Copa America in June/July and then to ‘continue to contribute work and goals’ next season at whichever club he ends up at.
Absolutely criminal that both Salomon Rondon and Rafa Benitez haven’t had their futures secured at Newcastle United.
Salomon Rondon talking to Mundo Deportivo:
‘You now have 10 goals without [any] penalties and seven assists in the Premier League, it is your best season. What is your assessment now as the season ends at Newcastle?’
“I am very satisfied because the coach Rafa Benítez put a lot of confidence in me and I have tried to give the maximum to the team.
“Having participated in so many goals has been important for the goals of the team and the personal ones, which were to be able to surpass what I had done before [in the Premier League] this season.
“There is still one more day [at Fulham on Sunday] to try to have a good finish.
“Then think about the Copa America [with Venezuela this summer] and wherever [I am] next season, continue to contribute work and goals.”
‘Do you see Liverpool able to turn the 3-0 at Camp Nou without Salah and Firmino?’
“It is difficult to turn around 3-0 in the first leg, although this is football, so we do not know what will happen.
“Each game is different, the approaches, the plays, the moments, the sensations … without two important players like Salah and Firmino, but they have players to replace them and that speaks of what a great team can be.”
‘What is the greatest danger of Sturridge, Origi and Shaqiri?’
“They are three very great players.
“Obviously they have had a less protagonistic role because of the great campaign that Salah, Firmino and Mané are having at Liverpool.
“That’s why they’ve had less minutes, but Sturridge, Origi and Shaqiri can make a difference.
“It happened to us [Newcastle United] in the match against them at home last Saturday, when we lost 2-3.
“Origi scored the third goal, Shaqiri put a very good cross and with the dynamic he has can make a difference.
“And with Sturridge, I was with him at West Brom [last season] and he’s a very high quality player.”
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