IF Newcastle United fans needed any further proof that they have the right man trying to lift the proud Tyneside club out of the relegation zone then a trip to Anfield, where Rafael Benitez clearly remains hugely appreciated, provided just that.

The question on everyone’s lips is whether his appointment has arrived too late?

All will be revealed over the next few weeks, but if Newcastle do fall out of the Premier League for the second time in seven years then at least they are going down fighting under Benitez.

Newcastle’s players, who lacked cohesion before his arrival and were without leadership and togetherness in the camp, are showing improvements on all of those fronts. Suddenly the same group are unbeaten in three having started with three defeats in four under his watch.

The travelling supporters on Merseyside were clearly impressed by the work he has done in such a short space of time, while the Liverpool fans chanting his name provided a reminder of the calibre of the man attempting to revive ailing Newcastle.

This is, after all, a man who has managed at the very top, won a variety of honours including the Champions League trophy during his time with the Reds in 2005.

Little wonder, then, that Newcastle’s fans are happy with what they are seeing, but there is an acceptance they might have to stay up to feel the true benefits of what Benitez could deliver in the North-East.

He is still encountering problems; problems which could still prove crucial before the end of the season. Liverpool cruised into a two-goal lead in the first half an hour because of poor decision making and defending.

A striker of the quality of Daniel Sturridge, with just 68 seconds on the clock, should never have been allowed to chest and turn his way clear to find the net when both Paul Dummett and Jamaal Lascelles stood close by.

Neither should Adam Lallana have been allowed to control and curl a perfect shot into Karl Darlow’s top right corner, no matter how good the finish was from the England winger. But at least Newcastle, after a half-time talk and slight tinkering from Benitez, did not give up like they often have in recent times.

Andros Townsend, Newcastle’s £10m January buy, said: "We made it hard for ourselves. Before the game we were saying to stay in the game and don't concede an early goal like we did at Southampton.

"We didn't do that, but in the second half we showed great character and great courage to come back. Anfield’s such a difficult place to go and get a result, but we did that.”

That was because Papiss Cisse made the most of an error of judgement from former Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet when he missed Vurnon Anita’s deep cross three minutes into the second half.

The Senegalese striker headed in his first goal since November’s heavy defeat at Crystal Palace to drag Newcastle into it and that was followed up by Jack Colback’s equaliser 24 minutes from time.

Colback, a former team-mate of Mignolet at Sunderland, had not scored for more than a year when he pounced on a half cleared Townsend cross by striking in an effort which deflected off Dejan Lovren and beyond Mignolet.

Newcastle, who had Georginio Wijnaldum’s running causing greater problems after the restart after he had been introduced for Ayoze Perez, could even have won at Anfield for the first time in 22 years in the league after showing a willingness to attack. The winner, though, never arrived at either end.

But it was still the first point claimed by Newcastle on their travels since December, ending a run of nine consecutive away defeats when a further reversal would have seen them equal a club record set 85 years ago.

Townsend said: “Now we're confident. We got a point against Manchester City and won against Swansea. Now we're full of confidence.

"It was a kick in the teeth to concede in the first minute. It's always difficult, especially when you go to Anfield, to concede in the first minute.

"But we gathered ourselves after that and came away with a deserved point after a great second-half performance.

"The manager basically said 'you've got nothing to lose now - keep going and leave it all on the pitch' when he saw us at half-time. That's what we did. We got the point, and hopefully it can be a massive point.”

Newcastle’s frailty has been abundantly clear all season and it did not take Townsend, after his move from Tottenham in January, to realise the extent of the nervousness and frustration in the squad he had joined.

But Benitez, who has made some tough decisions since taking over like leaving out expensive buys, seems to be having the desired effect but it will be hoped in Newcastle that the shoots of recovery will end with Sunderland and Norwich going down instead.

Townsend said: "When you're winning football matches and picking up points against good teams, it breeds confidence.

"Even at half-time, we believed if we got an early goal that we could go on and get another one. I think confidence is a massive thing in football. You see what Leicester have done.

“A lack of fight has been our problem. Our quality's not been our problem this season, it's maybe been the fight and determination and willingness to run, tackle and head the ball.

"In the past two or three weeks, we've shown that in abundance. Hopefully, this can be a turning point and we can get the points we need to keep this club in the Premier League."