A mock-up image of Toni Kroos wearing a Newcastle United shirtplaceholder image
A mock-up image of Toni Kroos wearing a Newcastle United shirt | Getty Images
A German football legend is backing Newcastle United as they aim to end a 31-year run without winning away to Liverpool.
Toni Kroos is serious about supporting Newcastle United and will be roaring on Eddie Howe’s side against Liverpool this weekend.
It was the gut-wrenching 3-2 defeat to the Reds in August that first caught the former Real Madrid star’s attention. In that game, a 10-man Newcastle succumbed to a 100th-minute Liverpool winner.
However, it was the raucous St James’ Park crowd and on-field togetherness that swayed Kroos towards Newcastle. Speaking on his podcast at the time, the German football legend joked about buying a membership at the Magpies.
What Toni Kroos said in August
“Newcastle vs Liverpool, just to say that again briefly for the few people here who haven't seen it, we're talking about that right now,” Kroos said. “I'm going to sign up as a Newcastle member today. (It was not) just the atmosphere, but also the team.
“You can do that in Germany (become a member) too, right? Is it different there? I don't know how it is, but if it's possible, please do it. They completely captivated me. I read a quote from Jamie Carragher, and I often disagree, but I have to say, he said that it was one of the worst performances in history from a winning team, and one of the best performances in history from a losing team. I agree with that.
“They're playing really well and, out of nowhere, as often happens against such favourites, they go 0-1 down. Boom. They get a red card. You come out (in the second half), 15 seconds down (it goes) 0-2. You're playing against the champions, the best team in England, trailing 0-2 and one man down. And what happened in the 45th, no, 55th minutes, was insane.
“I've rarely seen a team stay so active with 10 men, even at the risk of conceding six, seven, or eight at the end when you're somehow open. And then in the second half, not sitting back and saying, ‘Please not the third, please not the fourth’ and somehow making it 2-2.
“I'll do it (order a Newcastle membership). Fine, I'd do it. Do I have to show up next week? I will order the jersey of, who's the big one at the back? The one at the front for everyone. Dan Burn. He's 33, I think and, if I'm not mistaken, an England international. I think Tuchel made him an international. Could you please order his shirt and post it next week?”
Toni Kroos family divided this weekend
Ahead of tonight’s clash, Kroos doubled down on his Newcastle love-in while revealing his son, Leon, is a Liverpool fan. He said: “The next game is Liverpool against our Newcastle United, where we’re (Kroos and his brother), of course, still members, and I’m really looking forward to it. So I checked which games are happening this weekend and I saw Liverpool vs Newcastle.
“I’ll tell you one thing: it’s going to be a world-class atmosphere here at home (Kroos’ house) because Leon (his son) has really become a big Liverpool fan now. Yeah, he’s got the Wirtz jersey now, and of course I won’t sit next to him, I’ll be wearing my Dan Burn jersey. Saturday evening is going to be a war, an in-house battle.”
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