Andy Robertson has hailed Liverpool's backline as "different class" after a hard-fought win over Newcastle.
Jurgen Klopp made five changes to his side following the 2-0 win over Villarreal in order to rest some key players ahead of their return leg in Spain. Trent Alexander-Arnold dropped to the bench as Joe Gomez came into the side at right-back to make up a back four alongside Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and Robertson.
Naby Keita scored the decisive goal as Liverpool sealed a 1-0 win at St James Park, leapfrogging Manchester City, at least temporarily, as Pep Guardiola's side face Leeds United on Saturday evening. And the Scotland skipper hailed Gomez, Van Dijk and Matip as "different class" as they kept an impressive clean sheet against a resurgent Newcastle side.
"Newcastle worked really hard, they’re in fantastic shape. They’re in the top ten, so we knew it was going to be difficult," Robertson told BT Sport.
"Luckily we got the goal and I don’t think they had too many chances after that. We had a few to kill the game off but we’re just happy with the three points.
"Joelinton was causing us a couple of problems early on, but in the second half I thought the lads were excellent against him. They started better than us but then we got a foothold in the game. We got the goal and we got a bit better after that.
"They didn’t have many chances. I thought the two centre-backs and Joe Gomez were different class. We made five changes today, but the lads that are coming in are putting in big performances. We need that between now and the end of the season."
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Klopp was over the moon with the performance and how his players used their professionalism and quality to see out the win. He said: "You can have a team in form, a crowd who are waiting for ages for proper success, so coming here with five changes and building a new set-up is really difficult. So the performance was absolutely outstanding, I loved it. We had some moments when we struggled because it’s so difficult.
"The impact we have off the bench in game is outstanding, We expect a lot but the boys have to deliver. But Joe Gomez, what a game. Naby Keita, what a game. James Milner, what a game. Andrew Robertson, 93rd minute, running up, absolutely brilliant.
"You cannot really defend them properly because it’s always just these long balls. Really difficult to get a feeling of the game. I really thought we dealt with it well. We had to adapt at moments, but the most important thing was putting Naby in front. It was good, great atmosphere. Newcastle are a passionate crowd and winning here is special."
