Reaction'Incredible Joe Gomez sums up the attitude in our squad'

Gomez and Milner both came in as two of five changes made by Jürgen Klopp for the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at St. James’ Park.

Another player to return to the starting XI, Naby Keita, scored the game’s only goal to secure a crucial three points in the Premier League title race, and Milner lauded the efforts of the entire Reds squad amid what is a relentless fixture schedule.

“[It’s] credit to the boys [and] how hard they train when they’re not playing the games and the work that we do with the fitness guys and the physios,” the vice-captain told Liverpoolfc.com, when asked about the impact of the players called upon in the north east.

“To be fighting on all fronts at this stage of the season, [playing] every three days and putting the energy and levels of performances the boys are putting in, it is credit to the full squad.

“You need every single player and it’s credit to the attitude of the boys as well because it’s not always easy when you are not playing.

“For Joey, for example, to come in this morning and perform like he did again was incredible. [He won] headers, they were loading his side, and going forward. I’ve realised over the last few months what a good crosser of the ball he is! It’s pleasing.”

Liverpool were in control for much of Saturday’s contest and mainly negated the threat of Newcastle, who had won each of their previous six home matches in the top flight.

Milner continued: “It was always going to be tough [against] a team high on confidence, a good team, energised, the stadium was lively as it normally is but especially when they are playing well. So it was always going to be tough.

“I thought we played well in the most part, I think we could have controlled it slightly better at times. But I think against a team like that who have different ways of hurting you, [are] flying high and confident, we were never going to control it for 90 minutes.

“So there’s things we can work on but it was about obviously the three points and a massive clean sheet again.

“Obviously the defenders were unreal, Joey coming in at right-back was unbelievable again, but how we defend it takes the whole team and it starts from the front, so credit to all the boys to get that clean sheet.”

The trip to St. James’ came just a couple of days after Klopp and his assistant managers Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz signed new contracts with the club and Milner stated: “I mean, he’s not a bad manager is he, let’s be honest!

“The career he had before and the job he’s done, it’s been great to be a part of that process and see it step by step, the changes and seeing how the team has evolved.

“It’s been amazing to be here and to see the work he has done, and Pep and the other staff as well, so it’s fantastic news for the club and hopefully we can keep putting trophies on the board.”