Liverpool midfielder James Milner has hailed the influence of goalkeeper Alisson Becker after the Brazilian stopper made a huge save against Newcastle to deny Ciaran Clark's header from close range.
Jurgen Klopp's side were frustrated by the result as the game ended goalless, seeing them drop points against two of the relegation contenders in successive matches.
But Milner says the performance was much improved on the 1-1 draw at Anfield with West Brom, with Alisson's late heroics preventing what would have been an undeserved defeat.
"I think it was a big improvement [on West Brom]. We've come up against two very stubborn teams, given everything to get the points," Milner told Liverpool's official website.
"At least we performed better. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough for the three points but we've got to keep pushing.
"We created enough chances, [were] solid at the back, any balls that popped out we were winning.
"But a mixture of good goalkeeping, defending, a bit of bad luck and maybe not taking our chances well enough was the difference.
"It's important that you just keep it moving, keep patient and make sure you have movement up front.
"It's easy to sometimes get frustrated and try difficult balls or too straight balls over the top and they get cut out.
"We restricted them most of the game but Ali is top-class – everybody knows that. Especially on a night like tonight, it's going to be pretty cold for him I can imagine, standing at the back with not too much to do.
"Then having to pull a save out like that towards the end - that shows how good he is and what a big player he is for us."
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Liverpool are three points clear at the top of the table as 2020 draws to a close, though Manchester United have a game in hand and could draw level at the top should they win that one.
"At this moment in time that nobody wants to take it by the scruff of the neck. We've dropped points, everyone seems to be dropping points," Milner added.
"[Manchester] United have had a good run and they're probably the only team who are putting a run together.
"It's important that we need to kick on now and try to get a few three-pointers.
"But the world is in a very strange place at the moment and it's the same in football.
"Everybody's lives are upside down, it's tough mentally for everybody and it's the same in football.
"Hopefully we can get out of this the other side and it's the same with football – we just need to keep plugging away.
"It is different, it's different times and that time where you maybe need the crowd to give you that lift and get it over the line."
