"I have answered this question a lot of times.

"We knew the first half was not the best and we needed to react so I told them similar to what I said in the past: 'Nothing to lose'. We had to fight and show more character and I think the players had a fantastic reaction. 

"Liverpool were playing well and it was difficult to stop them but this was different (to Istanbul). 

"That was a final, one game, and now it is a race in which we have to keep going. Hopefully it will be the same and I will be really pleased. I am pleased with the point against a very good team and hopefully they can do well in the Europa League.

"Hopefully Liverpool can go in the right direction (under Klopp). He's got great experience and is a lovely person, someone who the players and the fans will enjoy. Hopefully, next year we can play Newcastle and Liverpool again in the Premier League.”

Reflecting on his second return to Anfield as a manager:

"It is very emotional; the fans, the city and the club. 

"I have a very good relationship with Liverpool and my family still live here. It was emotional because the Liverpool and Newcastle fans were singing my name. It was really pleasing."
 

They Said

Jurgen Klopp said:

"We did really, really well in the first half against a highly-motivated side in their situation. Now they are happy with a point but before the game they maybe thought they could win against Liverpool at Anfield.

"In the first half we were clearly the better team and we were clearly the better team in the second half too, only not around the two goals we conceded. Two shots on target and two goals – it sounds not too good and is not too good. But in this moment we have to accept it.

"We really did well in a lot of parts of the game. We cannot think about the reason (why we didn't win) too much, to be honest. We have to carry on and work.

"Today, especially the first half was really good. In the second half after the draw, usually the game can change but it didn’t. We were still dominant and we played football. In an intensive game, after an intensive game, against a rested opponent, we did really well.

“But you then need a little bit of luck in decisive moments; it’s an inch on the boot and the ball goes there. We had this penalty situation – I think it was a clear penalty.

"2-2 feels not too good but we have to accept it and we can accept it.” 

Two second half goals made it a memorable return to Anfield for Rafa Benitez as United carved out  what could prove to be another crucial point in their desperate fight for top-flight survival.

Anything other than a heavy defeat here seemed incredibly unlikely at half-time though, with the visitors two down and having shown nothing to trouble a home side strolling in the sunshine.

The Benitez game plan had gone out of the window after just 68 seconds when Sturridge controlled the ball in the box and turned to fire past the helpless Karl Darlow.

Things got worse after half an hour when Lallana curled one home from the edge of the area and a record-equalling tenth successive away loss for the white and blue clad Toon looked inevitable.

At that point the United boss could have been forgiven for seeking a hasty exit back to his home on the Wirral, but somehow he managed to galvanise his current charges into making a game of it and ultimately end our disastrous and damaging sequence of away defeats at the tenth time of asking.

Papiss Cisse got on the end of a Vurnon Anita cross soon after the break before Jack Colback amazingly hit a deflected effort to draw his side level midway through the second half.

Gini Wijnaldum replaced Ayoze Perez at the interval and it didn't take long for Cisse to head United back into the match in front of the Kop - his first goal of 2016.

Referee Andre Marriner thankfully waved away penalty appeals for Cheick Tiote's challenge on Sturridge and a rapid break from Wijnaldum ended with Cisse bearing down on goal and defenders frantically trying to get in front of him.

Cisse dallied however and eventually teed up Townsend who fired harmlessly over the crossbar and increased the grumbling from a discontented home following. Undaunted, United maintained the pressure and another Townsend centre saw Colback level to trigger absolute mayhem among the travelling support whose support of manager and players alike grew louder and louder.

Despite prolonged home pressure there were few clear chances, which is testament to some defensive displays that left absolutely nothing out - Chancel Mbemba seemingly relishing his task, while Vurnon Anita literally ran himself to a standstill for the cause.

Substitute Jonjo Shelvey almost broke clear against his old side but he and fellow replacement Aleksandar Mitrovic were more gainfully employed helping out the defence, than threatening a long overdue and famous victory on this ground.

If Benitez was able to ultimately coax and cajole his side to another positive result though, he's also breathed new life into fans over the last week - and God alone knows we needed something to cling to. If Leeds have resorted to bundling in a pie voucher with their seats, then free prescriptions for anti-depressants posted with away tickets would have been a valid option for Newcastle in 2016.

We may only have taken a point, but the euphoria generated by the team just demonstrating their commitment was almost tragic. The second half display, outcome and crowd response evoked memories of happier days on this ground when we were actually threatening and competitive. 

In particular this was reminiscent of a similar comeback in 2002, when goals from Gary Speed and Alan Shearer saved a point for Bobby Robson's side after they trailed 0-2. (Actually, that night was even more mental as we kicked towards the away end in the second half. Quoting from our report of Wor Al's leveller: "I have no idea what happened for the next 90 seconds, but several bruised ribs and a big lump on the back of the head may provide some clues.")   

Back to 2016 and ended here in handshakes and applause all round, Rafa replicating the result of his previous visit here when in charge of Chelsea, inspiring us to a result despite them looking like the ultimate lost cause - no wonder journalists spoke of Istanbul afterwards.... 

What continues to baffle and bemuse though is quite why we've been so dreadful for vast tracts of this season - and those now giving "100% for the gaffer" as Papiss Cisse commented were equally capable of posting lamentable displays cheating their supporters and employer week after week.

This could still be a massive point for us - not just the source of some fleeting joy - despite a point for the mackems 24 hours later. Victories against Palace and Villa remain essential to maintain a chance of survival going into the last game of the season, at home to Spurs.

The great escape is still possible, if improbable. If nothing else though, we're going down fighting and that's testament to the man in the away dugout inspiring greater effort on and off the field.

Biffa