Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle United: 5 Talking Points 

#4 Newcastle can take a lot of heart from their performance

Lascelles and co. should take heart from their outing against a marauding Liverpool side

Let's be honest here. While Rafael Benitez had never lost to Liverpool before, he has also never managed a side so bereft of quality and it would have required a lot of grit, as well as luck (remember Joselu's equaliser at the St James Park?) to ensure that his positive record against his former employers continued.

While that was not to be, Newcastle can actually take a lot of heart from their performance against a side that is head and shoulders above them in terms of quality on every part of the pitch. They put in a disciplined performance to keep Liverpool away from finding the back of the net at a venue that has seen them tear open even the best of defences with ease and their defenders weren't afraid to put their bodies on the line for the cause of the side.

They did have a couple of half chances that, if converted, could have turned the game on its head and while Liverpool dominated, Newcastle proved to be worthy and willing opponents to the high-flying Reds.

With just 9 games to play in the season, Newcastle have a battle on their hands if they want to retain their status as a Premier League club and while a win would have immensely boosted their confidence, the Magpies should take a lot of heart from this performance that did not let Liverpool off the hook.