Newcastle United dressing room truths and Mohamed Salah's telling reaction away from the cameras

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe shared some home truths with his players in the build-up to their clash with Liverpool.

Meetings with the squad and individual consultations were understandable with Howe looking deflated as he spoke to the media at Selhurst Park on Saturday - after seeing a 1-0 lead slip at the death. As he walked off after a very different score draw, Howe rubbed his head in disbelief as he tried to process what he'd just witnessed.

In the space of 90 plus minutes, he'd dared to dream about beating the Premier League leaders, watched on in agony as that lead turned to a deficit and then punched the air as his team pulled themselves level to end up right back where they'd started on a pulsating night in front of the Prime Video cameras.

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What we've learned about this Newcastle team is that they can lift themselves for the big occasions against Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal. But then against the likes of Brighton, Palace and West Ham, they find themselves short of inspiration.

It's hard to put a finger on why. Alexander Isak struggled, before getting injured at Palace, Bruno Guimaraes looked emotional and tired just a few days earlier and Anthony Gordon flattered to deceive for long periods. But here they came alive and now Howe will again ask questions of his players - albeit different ones to the build-up to this game.

Speaking afterwards, Howe said: "We weren’t perfect, but we were everything we want to be in terms of attitude, body language, demeanour, energy, pressing. I have to say, I don’t think Palace was maybe as bad as the perception is of that game because we were 1-0 up with seconds left.

"If we win that game, there’s a totally different view on it. But I understand that perception always changes with results. West Ham, the last half-an-hour, was the low point for me, but yes, we need to hit the type of standards we set here consistently, and that is the challenge now for the players to deliver."

Mohamed Salah's state of disbelief

Despite putting a performance that drew comparisons with Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah left the field in a state of disbelief after his second half super show.

The Egypt international struck twice with goals of true quality and slammed another against the frame of the goal after shimmying into the box. However, despite his electric showing he did not leave the pitch a winner. As he headed down the tunnel Salah, who is having contract issues with Liverpool, put his hand on his head in disbelief. It had just been that type of night.

Curtis Jones pays Newcastle fans ultimate compliment

The Liverpool and England star said that his side had to accept he point at St James' Park and "move on" but the midfielder did not leave without giving the Toon fans a compliment, as well as Eddie Howe's team.

Jones said: "It's a hard place to come and play. They're a good team and they've got great fans – it helps them as well.

"The first half was tough. We were terrible and then we upped it in the second half. I scored and it changed the whole of the game and we were back [in it]. I'm gutted we couldn't take the three points, but we'll take a point. That's fine."