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Wijnaldum: 'It's My Goal!'
Written by Newcastle Utd
Georginio Wijnaldum has insisted that Newcastle's first goal against Liverpool on Sunday belongs to him
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Georginio Wijnaldum is claiming Newcastle United's first goal against Liverpool, even though his 69th-minute shot took a big deflection off Martin Å krtel.
The Dutchman reacted first after Moussa Sissoko's low cross made his way into the box, firing in a right-footed effort from a tight angle at the Leazes End.
It looped off the outstretched leg of Reds defender Å krtel and many sources have credited the Slovak stopper with an unwanted own goal.
But when asked if he felt it was his strike, Wijnaldum told nufcTV: "Yeah, of course.
"I shot on goal. Against Norwich, it was a little bit the same situation - I shot on goal and the ball took a deflection, but I still shot on goal, so I think it's my goal."
That will be a decision for the Premier League's goal accreditation panel but there was certainly no doubt about the scorer of Newcastle's second, which came in stoppage time.
Sissoko supplied the pass after a surging run and Wijnaldum expertly dinked the ball over the onrushing Simon Mignolet.
"It was a great ball from Moussa, great sprinting, and it was easy for the goal," Wijnaldum said.
"I chipped the ball over the keeper - I think that was my only choice - so it was a great finish."
Whether he's given the first goal or not, Wijnaldum - a summer signing from PSV Eindhoven - remains Newcastle's top scorer this season.
All of his strikes so far have come at St. James' Park, and Sunday's 2-0 win certainly changed the mood on Tyneside following disappointing defeats to Leicester and Crystal Palace.
"Every game is different," Wijnaldum smiled. "Today, I'm the man who scored two goals but another day, another player will be that man.
"It's important that we give each other confidence to perform good. I feel the confidence from the trainers and from my team-mates, so that will give me more confidence to play like this and score goals to help the team.
"Today, I'm the big man but maybe another week, somebody else will be the big man. We must help each other out to be that kind of man."
You can watch the full nufcTV interview with Georginio Wijnaldum here