Ayoze Perez: 'Newcastle United can handle Premier League big boys'

Newcastle United midfielder Ayoze Perez has insisted that his side are able to handle the Premier League's toughest opponents after earning a draw against Liverpool on Sunday.

The Magpies equalised through Joselu after Philippe Coutinho had put the Reds in front with a trademark curling effort past Rob Elliot.

The draw, a welcome point after a defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in their previous fixture, kept them in ninth position in the table.

"It was a great point against a top side," Perez told reporters. "We had to realise it was going to be a really hard game. It was a different kind of test, but we showed we could handle it.

"We've had a few different tests, but we showed against Liverpool that we can handle ourselves against a top side.

"We have to keep growing and improving, but we've shown that we're comfortable at this level."

Newcastle face a favourable run of fixtures following the international break, with ties against Southampton, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Bournemouth ahead for the Magpies.