Liverpool loss highlights Newcastle's top transfer priority and raises Allan Saint-Maximin question

Yes, there was only a single goal in it, yes Newcastle retained their dignity heads high, and certainly massive strides have been made in the last few months.

However in terms of learning how far United must improve to reside amongst the very best then the truth is a significant gulf has to be bridged.

Elite football is a squad game not a team game and Liverpool's quadruple chasers were able to bench superstars of the quality of Footballer of the Year Mo Salah, midfield genius Thiago, and full-back marauderer Trent Alexander-Arnold and still play in cruise control.

The last week has shown us what these Red Scousers are all about: they faced the Mersey derby when Everton employed every dark art known to man but won comfortably 2-0; played in the semi-final of the Champions League when Villarreal attempted to swamp the ball with numbers but won comfortably 2-0; and finally confronted a Newcastle side which had triumphed in six home matches on the bounce but won comfortably 1-0.

That is now 15 Liverpool Premier League matches in 2022 of which they have won 13 and draw the other two, 11 away games in all competitions this year without defeat, and eight clean sheets in their last nine PL matches. As Eddie Howe said pre-match there is no such thing as a weakened Liverpool side.

Newcastle are on their way but there are a few bus stops to take on fresh newcomers before the promised land even comes into sight. We have every right to be excited about what has occurred under Eddie but equally we must be realistic. I was banging that drum before the game not just now after defeat but it hardly takes genius to realise what faces us. It is obvious to all.

United's best player? Martin Dubravka and that tells us everything. Without him