Newcastle United need to find their own James Milners if they are to dream of competing with Liverpool

ST JAMES’ PARK — James Milner stood at the side of the pitch in the Tyneside sun, red shirt resting on his shoulder and looking every inch like a man who was ready to go again.

Liverpool’s 36-year-old talisman – the man without whom, Jurgen Klopp claims, “none of this would have happened” – had just snarled, snapped and stultified his former club as this relentless Red machine continued its ominous march towards history.

Newcastle were unbeaten at St James’ Park in the calendar year, fresh off the back of six straight wins with a home crowd riding a wave of post-takeover euphoria. But in truth it was fairly light work for a Liverpool team able to make five changes to their strongest XI without unduly interrupting their momentum.

If anything should cause Pep Guardiola sleepless nights it is that. Liverpool may be the only team in the Premier League – or Europe – able to interchange personnel so seamlessly and remain so effective. Take out key parts of this generational side like Mo Salah and they still whir on relentlessly.

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Milner was one of the understudies who shone. It is two decades since he made his senior debut but he remains at the peak of his profession, a player able to slot into one of the best teams in the world without weakening them.

“The attitude in the dressing room is absolutely unreal,” he said afterwards, paying a fulsome tribute to a squad that is setting sky high standards.

They are playing an important game every three days now, but those – like Milner – who don’t play regularly train with the sort of intensity that means Klopp can rest players and still make the rest of the league look bad.

Jordan Henderson is another. Here he barked orders at his teammates, covering ground diligently and controlling midfield. When he was taken off the ex-Sunderland midfielder made a point of applauding all four corners of St James’ Park with a wry smile. Job done.

Former Sunderland midfielder Henderson enjoyed his day out in Newcastle (Photo: Getty)

Naby Keita’s goal mid-way through the first half settled the contest. Liverpool weren’t at their irresistible best, wasteful in front of goal, but with enough to prevail and collect another three points.

This Liverpool side have their sights set higher, of course, but they are walking a tightrope. Manchester City continue to match them win for win. For all Liverpool’s talent, Guardiola’s side are a formidable hurdle to overcome.

“We’ve been lucky enough to win one trophy this year but if you don’t win anything else it’s an average season for the club,” Milner admitted afterwards. It is far from inconceivable that both title rivals win all their remaining games then meet each other in Paris for the Champions League final.

Newcastle were afforded a reminder of how far they will have to travel to become genuine Premier League title contenders, something co-owner Amanda Staveley has said they aspire to do within five years.

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It would be ridiculous to read too much into this defeat – their own historic achievement is to beat the drop from a position that no other side had managed to – but they didn’t do enough to match a fantastic atmosphere. They weren’t particularly bad, just up against the sort of excellence that they aspire to.

For all that, there are things to work on. Allan Saint-Maximin’s form continues to trouble, for one.

They will stick with Eddie Howe, their inspirational manager, and hope that he can conjure his own version of Klopp’s revolution.

By extending his contract for another two years, the German has sent a message to his relentless players – and the rest of the Premier League.

“Yeah, we’re happy – he’s not a bad manager, is he?” Milner said of Friday’s big news.

“It’s outstanding. I think you see the job he’s done. I was here from the start, when he first came in, and it’s been one big process. He’s done an incredible job and obviously, the longer he’s here the better for the football club.

“You can see the changes – there’s been a lot of changes in personnel and on the playing staff. The ideas are similar, obviously they’ve evolved and developed as the team has developed. The intensity has always been there but we manage to maintain it now.

“I think you see the level the boys played at midweek and then to do it again on Saturday is incredible. That’s a process about getting the fitness levels, the mentality to be able to do it and getting the squad together.”

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