Rafael Benítez said Newcastle United’s recovery from two goals down at Liverpool showed his players possess the spirit and character needed to secure the club’s Premier League status.
Newcastle ended a run of nine consecutive league defeats away from home to earn their first point on the road since 13 December after a stirring fightback at Anfield.
Benítez’s team trailed his former club 2-0 at the interval, Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana appearing to set Liverpool on course for a fifth straight win in all competitions, but goals from Papiss Cissé and Jack Colback sealed an encouraging second-half response.
The draw took Newcastle to within a point of fourth-bottom Norwich City and Benítez insisted an escape is possible with only three matches remaining. “Yes, I think we can stay up,” said the Newcastle manager. “It depends on the other teams too but if we can fight with this spirit we can do it.
“When we arrived we [played] Leicester, who were top. We did well but we lost. We had a good performance at Norwich but not at Southampton and we needed to show character today and the belief we showed against Swansea and Manchester City.
“We did it late but we did it. That’s the positive thing. They gave a reaction when we needed one and know what we had to do if we want to stay up. They are working hard, training really well and they are getting confidence. When you are 1-0 down away they don’t have confidence but they showed they have that and passion today.”
Benítez admitted he was in a familiar position at half-time of having to remind Newcastle’s players of their precarious position. He said: “We knew in the first half we were not at our best and that we needed to react. I told them we have nothing to lose, we have to fight, show character, and the players had a fantastic reaction. It was difficult because Liverpool are playing well and were difficult to stop. Then we showed character and passion. We also had two counterattacks after to win the game.”
The former Liverpool manager received a rapturous reception on his return to Anfield. “It was very emotional,” he said. “From the fans, the city, the club, I have a very good relationship with Liverpool. My family still lives here. It was emotional because the Liverpool fans were singing my name and the Newcastle fans were singing my name afterwards. I am really pleased with this reaction and to get a point against a really good team. Hopefully they can do well in the Europa League.”
