Newcastle United players and staff's disappointment following a narrow defeat against Liverpool showed how far the Magpies have come, but this 1-0 loss also served as a fresh reminder of the work Eddie Howe's side have to do to one day compete with the rampant Reds.
Although Newcastle have made unquestionable strides defensively, at the other end of the field, this was an afternoon where the hosts failed to seriously test Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and failed to even win a single corner kick. Newcastle still have Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier to come back, of course, who both give this side a different dimension, while Ryan Fraser was also missing, but the black-and-whites will need further firepower to move to the next level.
It may be a window where evolution rather than revolution is the message coming from the club, but Newcastle's priority this summer must be to secure at least another match-winner in the final third. Callum Wilson, after all, is still the club's top scorer this season with a measly six goals despite not featuring since December. The goalscoring burden has certainly been shared in Wilson's absence but, as good as Liverpool centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip are, it was a little too comfortable for the pair on Saturday.
READ MORE: Newcastle owners see Liverpool's £103m secret and Klopp's exchange with home bench - 5 things
Chris Wood has generally led the line in Wilson's absence, but Howe opted not to start with a recognised striker at St James' as Allan Saint-Maximin was fielded through the middle. Although that decision was influenced, in part, by Howe's desire to have tireless runners like Joelinton and Miguel Almiron on the wing, who would track back, the Magpies' head coach hoped it would also give his side an outlet through the middle on the break.
However, Newcastle struggled to get the ball to Saint-Maximin and, instead, Klopp was more concerned with the long balls played out to the left to Joelinton. Howe's side lacked thrust in attack as the hosts were flagged offside a whopping nine times. Miguel Almiron had the ball in the back of the net on Saturday, but the Paraguay international's effort was correctly disallowed and the only save of note Alisson had to make was to deal with a tame effort from Bruno Guimaraes late on.
There have been occasions in recent months where Newcastle have lacked a cutting edge in open play without Wilson, but the black-and-whites have made up from it with their clever routines and good deliveries from set-plays. However, Newcastle just did not ask enough questions of this Liverpool defence from dead ball situations, either.
In saying that, at the other end, it is easy to forget the progress Newcastle have made from a defensive perspective. Indeed, not so long ago, the floodgates would have opened after Naby Keita's opener in the 19th minute. As part-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi put it after the game, after taking in the match with Amanda Staveley, Jamie Reuben and special guest Gareth Southgate, 'you know we've come a long way when we're so disappointed not to beat Liverpool'.
Those at the top hope this will one day be a title decider, but you would have been forgiven for thinking a trophy was at stake ahead of the game as Newcastle supporters and Wor Flags created another special atmosphere inside St James' Park. Jurgen Klopp rightly expected the whole stadium to be 'on fire' and it won't have taken the Liverpool boss long to realise why Newcastle had not previously been beaten at home in the top-flight in 2022.
Howe wanted his side to feed off that energy and Joe Willock was soon forcing Alisson - of all people - into an early error as the Londoner pressed the goalkeeper high up the pitch. Liverpool looked a little unnerved, but the Reds soon settled and Naby Keita fired an early warning shot in the seventh minute when the midfielder's effort from the edge of the area was deflected behind.
Liverpool began to dominate possession and move Newcastle's players side to side in the heat and Klopp's side soon made that pressure count in the 19th minute. Milner's pass to Diaz was intercepted by Schar but the ball ricocheted off the Switzerland international's shin and got away from him. Schar and Milner both went for the ball right in front of referee Andre Marriner and it was the former who came off worse from the 50/50 challenge.
Milner won the ball fairly, but Schar was left writhing on the turf as Liverpool played on and Jordan Henderson picked out Naby Keita out on the right. Keita played a clever one-two with DIogo Jota, which cut Newcastle's defence open, before dribbling across Dubravka and lashing the ball into the net.
Marriner was quickly surrounded by Newcastle players while supporters repeatedly chanted: 'You're not fit to referee' throughout the game. Marriner told Dan Burn that 'when we see it back, we will see it', in reference to Milner winning the ball, and those with the benefit of a replay realised the referee had made the right decision.
Newcastle had to keep their heads - it was only earlier this month that the game against Spurs got away from the Magpies after they chased too early - but the goal only gave Liverpool further encouragement. Keita's scooped pass sent the lively Luis Diaz racing clear on the break in the 34th minute and the forward expertly squared the ball to the unmarked Sadio Mane, but his shot was straight at Dubravka. Newcastle looked like they needed half-time and Dubravka was soon called into action once again in the 41st minute to tip Diogo Jota's header over the bar.
Newcastle did improve after the break, playing with renewed intensity, but the Magpies just could not create a clear cut opening. It was Liverpool who looked the likelier scorers as Mane fired wide after the hour mark before Dubravka kept out Jota once more in the 73rd minute.
As long as it stayed 1-0, though, Newcastle were still in this contest. As substitute Chris Wood put it before the game, 'at this place, you never know' and the Magpies did finally create a half-chance late on.
There were 87 minutes on the clock when Joelinton hooked the ball into Allan Saint-Maximin's path and the Frenchman quickly squared it to Bruno Guimaraes, who let fly from the edge of the area. However, Alisson made a comfortable save and it perhaps said it all that was the closest Newcastle came to scoring all game. Four minutes of stoppage time may have been added on, but an equaliser was never on the cards.
For the latest Newcastle news direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
