Newcastle’s defence under Rafa Benitez highlights Liverpool’s failings

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Newcastle under Rafa Benitez are among the best defensive teams in the Premier League. Their latest opponents Liverpool are not.

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez reacts during the Premier League match against Liverpool at St. James Park.

How Liverpool fans must have been longing for the defensive solidity of Rafa Benitez’s reign at the club as yet another error at the back allowed Newcastle United in to score an equaliser in the 1-1 draw in the Premier League.

A central defensive partnership of Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren were carved open by one simple pass to release Joselu in to score.

Joselu of Newcastle United evades Joel Matip of Liverpool to run on and score.

The regularity in which errors like this are happening in defence for the Reds would be laughable if they weren’t so costly. Only bottom placed Crystal Palace and West Ham United have conceded more league goals than the 12 let in by Jurgen Klopp’s side in the English top tier so far this season and after seven games they are already seven points off leaders Manchester City.

Newcastle, managed by Benitez, were meanwhile showing exactly what can be achieved with some organisation at the back. A defence containing Javier Manquillo (who had failed at Sunderland and Liverpool previously), DeAndre Yedlin (who had done similar with the Black Cats and Tottenham Hotspur), and Ciaran Clark (relegated from the division with Aston Villa) kept one of the league’s most fearsome attacks comfortably at bay.

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge vies with Newcastle United’s Javier Manquillo (R).

In contrast to the visitors to St James’ Park, the Magpies have a defensive record this term since being promoted from the Championship that is bettered only by the top three and Burnley, having let six in so far.

Benitez has turned previously rejected players into an organised and cohesive unit that is achieving results. Klopp, on the other hand, is getting increasingly angry at having to field questions about why his team have let yet another result slip through their fingers.