Jurgen Klopp has insisted his Liverpool side are still genuine title contenders, despite falling seven points behind both Manchester clubs this weekend after a draw at Newcastle.

Liverpool took the lead at St James’ Park though a fine Phillippe Coutinho goal but Joselu equalised before the first-half had finished and the visitors once again failed to make their territorial advantage pay.

They have now won only one of their last seven games while Manchester City and Manchester United continue to show genuine title intent.

Klopp said his side would turn around the current run and find the goals to keep pace at the top of the Premier League table.

Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Rob Elliot – 7 Could be disappointed to concede at the near post in the first half. Made a string of good saves when one-on-one. Getty Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings DeAndre Yedlin – 6 His pace got Newcastle out of some sticky situations. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Jamaal Lascelles – 6 Another commanding performance for Newcastle’s captain who is growing in confidence with every game played. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Ciaran Clark – 4 May have cost his team with a sliced clearance and was relieved to see Sturridge’s shot saved. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Javier Manquillo – 5 Gave away an unnecessary freekick on the edge of the box but nothing came of it. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Jonjo Shelvey – 8 Played a great through ball to Joselu for his goal. Dictated play and was Newcastle’s best player on the pitch. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Mikel Merino – 6 Received a warm applause when he came off in the 75th minute after a decent shift. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Matt Ritchie – 6 Had Moreno twisting and turning but was unable to produce any chances. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Ayoze Perez – 6 Looked a little isolated whenever he got the ball, his hold-up play was less than satisfactory. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Christian Atsu – 5 Made a few nice runs but had no luck going forward. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Joselu – 7 Latched onto Shelvey’s pass and almost fluffed a one-on-one chance but got lucky when Matip deflected the ball off him and in. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Simon Mignolet – 5 Had no noteworthy involvement after picking the ball out of his net in the first half. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Joe Gomez – 5 Booked for a very careless tackle in the second half, quiet otherwise. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Joel Matip – 4 Also guilty of switching and tried to recover but tackled the ball off Joselu and into the net. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Dejan Lovren – 4 Missed a sitter in the first half and switched off when Shelvey set up Joselu. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Alberto Moreno – 5 Was not busy in defence and couldn’t get going in the final third. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Georginio Wijnaldum – 5 Hit the post in the first half, still searching for that first away goal. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Jordan Henderson – 5 Quiet on the pitch and in the stands. Surprisingly no boos for the former Sunderland player who played a supporting role. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Philippe Coutinho – 8 Scored another stunning goal from outside the area. Liverpool are showing why the were so desperate to keep him. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Mohamed Salah – 7 Starting to look like a great signing by Jurgen Klopp. His pace and desire is a perfect match for Liverpool. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Daniel Sturridge – 4 Was given the nod over Roberto Firmino and may have blown his chance. Had several great chances to score and wasted them all. Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings Sadio Mane – 5 Was uncharacteristically quiet and was not able to get involved as much as he would have liked.

“I really think it looks like we are not far away from a real challenger,” he said. “If we do what we are good at then we can score more goals and we will win more games and we don't have to think about other teams and we will close the gap.

“No, I cannot talk about our football and the gap between us and other teams. We have our hard moment. Other teams will have their hard moment.

“We need to work on our thing. It is all about our situation, we are not thinking about where the others are.

“I have not seen a drop in confidence from the players. It is our duty to be confident because the boys have the quality. We need to play football. If you try and try and try and it doesn’t work it is not it. Then Phil scores the goal of the moment and we make one mistake. We made one real mistake. I’m not sure who was responsible and then at the end, unlucky, it is one-one.”

Liverpool spurned good opportunities for Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge, Mo Salah and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

“What is my job? Say, ‘Mo, don’t do that next time and Daniel please have a look next time?’ They know that and they will do that next time.’

“I thought we were the more active and the better side and created more chances, which we should used use. We should have won. I have to accept it.

“If you dominate you cannot avoid each counter attack. I cannot imagine one situation where they had a chance on the counter attack.”

Liverpool squandered a number of chances in front of goal (Getty)

Rafa Benitez, on facing the team he led to Champions League glory, had a flag unfurled by supporters in the Gallowgate End of the stadium that read: “We will follow you everywhere, we’ll always have your back. In spite of the lies they tell us we’ll never doubt you.”

It was his tactical victory and he said: “The lads did a great job and maybe with a bit more composure on the ball, we could have scored another goal.

“Jonjo has the quality on the ball, I told him before the game, you know how to play football, you just have to work hard and keep your head focused on the game and you will play well. If he works as hard as he did today, he will get more chances to play.

“That is the key for us as a team, to put the effort like we had today to be competitive.”