Newcastle United's 1-0 defeat to Liverpool meant that their excellent home run in 2022 came to an end on Saturday lunchtime. But as far as the bigger picture is concerned - nothing has really changed.
The reality is that this defeat could have sparked some major anxiety at one stage but the hard work of Eddie Howe and his staff means it won't push them towards relegation. There is hard work to be done at the training ground and in the transfer market but most people knew that before the clash with Liverpool.
And Howe has been consistent with his mood. Even after a good win at Norwich last week Howe did not get carried away.
Read more: Rate the Newcastle United players after spirited Liverpool defeat
After the Liverpool game he said: "We know there's a lot of work to do, but I d think we have, from where we were, improved a lot, so I don't think anyone would have had a different view before the game. "Certainly, after the game, my opinion is the same.
"But I do know the players gave everything on a hot day today to try to get something from the match and as I say, were in it until the last kick."
Newcastle showed they have made progress but in an unspectacular way
The Magpies were beaten heavily the last time they faced one of the big boys at St James' Park in Manchester City who turned up and pulled off a 4-0 victory last December. This time the visit of Liverpool was different.
The Reds may have dominated possession and created 24 attempts at goal. But Newcastle were always in the game and Liverpool had to wait patiently for the final whistle on a day when they had been pushed hard.
True, United barely created a clear-cut chance of note but on the break, after absorbing pressure, it would have only taken a moment of quality or even luck to force something.
The game-defining moment from a Newcastle point of view was probably Allan Saint-Maximin's through ball for Chris Wood. The New Zealand international couldn't beat the offside flag or Alisson in the Liverpool goal.
There was also a glimpse of goal late on from Bruno Guimaraes who got his shot away but struck it straight at his fellow countryman. Neither moment was of vintage standard but an equaliser in either of those second-half episodes could have left Liverpool with too much to do in the final stages.
In any case, Newcastle showed they can at least step onto the field and compete with a big side these days. Something that hasn't always appeared in many Chronicle match report in recent years.
Jurgen Klopp's name-check for Joelinton
Jurgen Klopp has sung the praises of Joelinton before and felt that the Brazilian's presence in Newcastle's front three was reminiscent of the £40million man's days in the Bundesliga.
The German boss stated Joelinton was an interesting signing way back in August 2019 and he name-checked him again after the 1-0 win for his side at St James' Park. Joelinton's role was more of a defensive one as he won seven aerial balls and a couple of important tackles.
Having watched the videos of Newcastle's win at Norwich, when Joelinton played as a number 9, Liverpool lined up against a Toon team with the ex-Hoffenheim man out wide and Allan Saint-Maximin in the middle.
Klopp said afterwards: "Obviously, Newcastle changed a little bit, put Joelinton on the right side - left side, our right - and kept the ball there [and] went for second balls.
"We struggled a bit, tried to adapt to it, did better, when the ball was on the ground we had a really good game already, I really liked how we played, how we put them [and] kept them quiet."
