Ibe: Liverpool believe in title chances under Klopp

McClaren wanted his team to “get back to the basics of work-rate and organisation” and they did so to good effect in matching Liverpool’s pressing game.

‘I said, at this moment maybe we deserved a point and sometimes you have to get dirty points and I have no problems with dirty points, not in games like this today but if you asked me who is the more deserving victor, then my feeling is it’s more Newcastle’. The Reds are 6th in the Premier League, nine focuses off the summit with a diversion close by after a troublesome begin of the season under previous administrator Brendan Rodgers.

Newcastle’s win saw them leapfrog Tyne-Wear rivals Sunderland in the Premier League table, and the midfielder feels his team-mates could be proud of Sunday’s battling display as the side look to secure survival this season.

The three points were well deserved following a tough period, said McClaren, who felt his Newcastle players gave their all for the cause.

Newcastle slipped back into the bottom three after last weekend’s 5-1 thrashing at Crystal Palace – managed by ex-Magpies boss Alan Pardew – which ramped up the pressure on the former Three Lions chief. They will face Stoke City for a chance to play for their first trophy since 2012.

But Newcastle head coach McClaren knows from experience how the Klopp effect can make the difference.

“I understand that the “lesser sides” are closing the gap but [the big guns] have to do better, way better, find some consistency”.

They have won 3-1 at Chelsea, 4-1 at Manchester City and 6-1 at Southampton, in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, only failing to win in Klopp’s first game, at Tottenham Hotspur, which finished 0-0.

Klopp admits he was too optimistic about Philippe Coutinho’s injury and he may not yet be ready to return.

“Better you lose a bad game than a good game”.

“We know where we are and we know what position we are in and we know how many games there are to go”. He touched it – I still think it’s my goal because I’ve shot on goal.

In truth though, we didn’t deserve anything from today.

“It is a good example to explain how players have to be handled differently because Hendo is a worker and he needs to be absolutely fit and that is the difference”, said Klopp. He had brought in some very talented players, and you have seen that Jurgen has taken that on.