NEWCASTLE: Magpies have to learn how to manage tight games if they are to remain in Premier League

With ten minutes of Saturday’s game at Bournemouth remaining, the Magpies were sitting in the top half of the table as they defended a two-goal lead.

However, after late strikes from Adam Smith and Dan Gosling condemned them to a 2-2 draw, they find themselves two points above the relegation zone in 15th position ahead of Saturday’s daunting trip to in-form Liverpool.

Bournemouth claimed a 90th-minute winner in the reverse fixture on Tyneside earlier this season, and Newcastle are developing a worrying habit of conceding costly late goals.

That will have to stop if they are to keep themselves out of the bottom three, and for all that they performed impressively for the vast majority of Saturday’s game on the south coast, their late capitulation still left a sour taste in the mouth.

“Everybody’s obviously disappointed,” said Yedlin, who could only watch on helplessly as Gosling slotted home to deprive his former club of two points. “We were 2-0 up and we had opportunities to go to 3-0 on some occasions, but we didn’t take those chances and found ourselves defending a lot for the last 20 minutes.

“There are lessons to be taken from every game, but as much as there are lessons, there are also positives to take too. I thought in the first half we controlled the game very well, and even parts of the second half. But it’s just a matter of controlling it for 90 minutes, and not for 60 or whatever it may be.

“Credit to them – they did well, kept the pressure on and the ball in our half, and they finished their chances. It’s disappointing because we were in a great position, but that doesn’t change what we need to do next.”

That next outing comes at Anfield, with Saturday’s game against Liverpool preceding what looks a potentially crucial home match with relegation rivals Southampton.

While Alan Pardew’s West Brom are beginning to look detached at the foot of the table, the other two relegation spots remain wide open, with just six points separating Watford in tenth from Swansea in 18th.

With that in mind, the loss of two points on Saturday was extremely costly, although it is at least partially balanced by the unexpected victory over Manchester United in Newcastle’s previous outing.

“I think if you were to tell us to take four points from these last two games, it would have been a pretty reasonable result for us,” said Yedlin. “We could have got six, and that’s what’s disappointing.  But we go on, and we’ll keep pushing forward and fighting.

“It’s something that comes with experience, so obviously we’re all disappointed about it. In no way are we happy with the point. We thought we deserved three, but at the end of the day, we got a point out of it and now we have to go to Liverpool next week and do a job.”

Benitez will be taking on his former employers in five days’ time, and for all that he was disappointed with his side’s inability to see the game out at Bournemouth, he will be adopting a similar tactical approach against Liverpool.

Newcastle soaked up a large amount of pressure at the Vitality Stadium before hitting their opponents on the break, with Dwight Gayle twice finding the net before the interval. Ayoze Perez and Jonjo Shelvey wasted good opportunities to extend their side’s lead before Bournemouth staged a late rally, and Benitez will be demanding a similar performance next weekend, albeit it with more composure at both ends of the field.

“When we go there (Anfield), we just have to play like we did for 70 minutes here,” he said. “Hopefully, we will take the positives and the team will do the same things they did for most of this game. You are talking about teams who have players who can make the difference, and you cannot lose your concentration, even for one second because you pay for that.

“The team has played a lot of good games in terms of organisation and understanding. There have been times where we have lacked a bit of quality and experience in the final third, and we haven’t always managed things well enough. But that is what happens when you are at this level and you play against very good players.

“Our team is a young team and we need a little bit more experience in how to manage situations like this. The team was doing well against Manchester United, but we have done that in quite a few games and we did again in the first half here. We have had situations where we have created chances, but we have missed out because of a lack of quality or experience.”

Gayle was complaining of tightness in his hamstrings when he was substituted at the weekend, but having moved to the top of Newcastle’s scoring charts with his brace, the number nine is expected to be fit to retain his place in the starting line-up at Anfield.

Islam Slimani is unlikely to be involved, and for all that he was pushing for the signing of a striker during last month’s transfer window, Benitez insists it is wrong to assume the Leicester loanee will walk straight into the side once he is passed fit to start.

Given he is ineligible to face his former employers, Slimani can only play a maximum of nine games even if he is involved against Liverpool. However, with Gayle currently in his best form of the season, there is a good chance the Algerian will not even be as heavily involved as that.

“We have to see when he (Slimani) is fit,” said Benitez. “If he is fit, we will see. But Dwight, Ayoze and Joselu, if they continue working like they worked in the week, and then afterwards they score goals, that will be very good.

“He will have to compete for his position. Hopefully, he will be another body and before the end of the season, he will be another one who can help.”