Liverpool were given a reality check by gutsy Newcastle United at St James' Park tonight as the hosts secured a 2-0 win to breathe new life into their relegation battle.
Touted as title challengers recently, the Reds were reminded that there is plenty of work still to do following an abject defeat in the North-East.
Martin Skrtel inadvertently opened the scoring with an own goal on 69 minutes, before the brilliant Georginio Wijnaldum consolidated a massive three points for the Magpies late on.
Here, Sports Mole reviews how the points were won.
Match statistics
NEWCASTLE
Shots: 6
On target: 1
Possession: 40%
Corners: 2
Fouls: 6
LIVERPOOL
Shots: 10
On target: 1
Possession: 60%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 10
Was the result fair?
In a relegation battle, luck is very much a prerequisite in order to survive and as organised as Newcastle United were, there were elements of good fortune about the victory. Not only did the breakthrough come via a fortuitous own goal, but Alberto Moreno also had a legitimate goal ruled out for offside in the final quarter. On another day, Liverpool - who also missed fine chances through Christian Benteke and Daniel Sturridge - might have left St James' with the point that they deserved. The Magpies were lucky, but good luck finding a Newcastle fan or player who cares.
Newcastle United's performance
Considering that only a four-goal victory would have lifted Newcastle United out of the relegation zone, their attitude to this encounter was excellent despite the minimal incentive. United went into it knowing that they would more than likely finish the weekend in the bottom three, but there were plenty of signs that showed they had no intention of finishing the season there. Fresh from a 5-1 defeat at Crystal Palace, Steve McClaren questioned his side's heart during the week. Tonight, they wore it on their sleeve and their fans, who were silent early on but slowly and surely grew more vocal, appreciated the commitment.
Given the contrasting fortunes of both sides' recent form, the supporters could have been forgiven for fearing the worst prior to kickoff, but their back four - who had shipped eight in their last two Premier League games - barely put a foot wrong. Anxiety levels among the players and fans decreased with each passing first-half minute. Benteke raised pulses with a chance on 23 minutes, but other than that Newcastle were comfortable. There was nothing to write home about in an attacking sense, with Papiss Cisse and Siem de Jong largely ineffective upfront - especially the latter - but 0-0 at half time represented hope.
Buoyed by the increasing belief of the home fans, Newcastle started the second half on top, with both wide men Wijanldum and Moussa Sissoko slowly but surely growing into the contest. It was that combination which fashioned the opening goal on 69 minutes, with Wijnaldum latching on to Sissoko's cross, before knocking it past Dejan Lovren and taking aim. The angle was against him, but luck wasn't and his effort was deflected into the roof of the net by Skrtel's knee. If the previous 70 minutes had not proved that the players do care about their miserable form amid suggestions of widespread apathy, then Wijnaldum's impassioned celebration should silence a few critics for now.
At the other end, Sturridge came close, while Lovren's tame header forced United goalkeeper Rob Elliot into his one and only save. They looked comfortable. When McClaren's side led Chelsea 2-0 at St James's Park in September, they panicked and subsequently lost the lead and the three points. Today, there was an increased sense of calm among the black and white shirts - even if the home fans were biting nails in their thousands - and Wijnaldum secured the points late on, clipping over Simon Mignolet from close range following brilliant running from Sissoko again.
Time will tell if Newcastle - who have previously drawn at Manchester United and home to Chelsea - can kick on from this, or whether it proves another false dawn. They remain in the bottom three but, as proven again, they should be nowhere near it.
Liverpool's performance
If not for the thousands of black and white shirts around, Liverpool could have mistaken St James' for Anfield. The Reds were totally in control early on, while the visiting fans went through their hymn book uncontested as the home support seemed nervous early on. Jurgen Klopp's side also played they were at Anfield. With 14 goals in their last four games in all competitions, Liverpool are a significantly different proposition away from home at the moment, but not once did they look like the side who embarrassed Chelsea, Manchester City or Southampton in recent weeks.
It was plain dull, with 19-year-old Jordon Ibe - excellent at home to Swansea City last week - once again the only attacking player in a red shirt to emerge with any credit. They had one chance in the first half tonight and it came when Benteke fired well over from a matter of yards. Beyond that, we saw why Klopp has been so reluctant to discuss Liverpool's Premier League title credentials as of late. Tonight was a reality check - a big one.
The German boss need only point to the opening goal as proof as to why his troops must focus on the top four this season. There was an acre of space between defence and midfield as Wijnaldum wandered into it unmarked, before eventually firing home via Skrtel's knee. It was criminal. Klopp threw on Sturridge and Adam Lallana in a double substitution which almost paid off handsomely when Lallana played his fellow sub in on goal, but Sturridge, on his right foot, screwed wide of Elliot's net.
Moreno did later have a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside, but it would have papered over the cracks somewhat. They were simply not good enough on the day, and Moreno was then brushed aside late on as Sissoko manhandled him en route to setting up the second. It is not quite back to the drawing board for Klopp, whose excellent results heavily outweigh the poor ones, but there is certainly work to be done.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Georginio Wijnaldum: Having scored four times in a 6-2 win over Norwich City earlier in the season, the Dutchman is no stranger to being Newcastle's go-to-guy. And he answered his side's call again tonight.
From the second half onward, Wijnaldum embodied the enthusiasm and hunger which McClaren called for in his pre-match press conference, and that guile played a major role in forcing the own goal. For the second, he sprinted the length of the pitch to provide support for Sissoko, before being rewarded. It was a tireless performance, and the question for McClaren is how he can draw these type of heroics from him on a weekly basis.
Biggest gaffe
Even the most modest of Sunday league striker should not be missing the one that £32.5m man Benteke missed in the first half. From point-blank range, the big Belgian prodded well over the bar for what proved to be a costly miss.
Referee performance
The game threw up one controversial moment when Moreno's onside goal was chalked off, but Andre Marriner is exonerated by virtue of the fact that the linesman ruled it out. Marriner had a busy game in all, booking five players, and he was never really tested by any of those offenders again.
What's next?
Newcastle United: It gets no easier for the Magpies as McClaren and co now turn their attentions to Tottenham Hotspur away next Sunday.
Liverpool: The Reds, already qualified for the Europa League knockout phases, conclude their group-stage campaign with a trip to Sion on Thursday.
Shane Callaghan
