Newcastle’s fightbacks prove Rafa Benitez is right man to try and beat drop

What is it about Rafael Benitez and second half comebacks?

At half-time at Anfield Newcastle looked dead and buried. The alarm bells were ringing, but then they've been sounding for some time for the Magpies.

The good news for the Geordie faithful, however, is that under Rafael Benitez they are far from a death knell.

The Spaniard oversaw one of the greatest second-half rescue acts in history during his time as Liverpool boss - and the spirit of that occasion was very much on show on his return to L4 on Saturday afternoon.

The only surprise was that it was his current team, Newcastle who were inspired to produce the heroics.

The visitors clawed their way back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to rescue what could yet prove to be a vital point in their quest to avoid the drop.

Asked in his post-match press conference what he said to his players at the interval, the Spaniard quipped: "I am asked this question a lot of times!

"I just told them we have nothing to lose, we have to fight and show character, and we had a fantastic reaction."

It wasn't quite of Istanbul proportions but its significance to Newcastle's survival bid and his own hopes of building towards a long-term future at the North-East club, can't be underestimated.

Benitez was tasked with saving a sinking ship when he took the reins at St James' Park last month and his influence has galvanised and completely transformed a team that had looked lost at sea.

Of course, the Spaniard is no stranger to facing mission impossible. It will be forever synonymous with his career after he helped Liverpool somehow overturn a 3-0 half-time deficit to defeat AC Milan on penalties in the 2005 Champions League final.

If you believe some of the media hype, keeping Newcastle in the Premier League would rank alongside that incredible achievement 11 years ago in Turkey's Ataturk Stadium.

To be frank, it wouldn't come close.

What transpired in Istanbul is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence at the pinnacle of club football. It's hard to see it ever being matched in terms of drama on the biggest stage.

Benitez has won silverware across Europe and for the protagonists at the top of the game's pyramid, winning is what it is all about.

Would it rank amongst Rafa's top five achievements? Probably not when you consider he has two La Liga titles, two UEFA/Europa Leagues, an FA Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, a World Club Cup and a Coppa Italia on his CV.

Could it make the top 10? It may well sneak in there, but that remains open to debate.

Where his Newcastle adventure does bear similarity to Istanbul is in the way the shoots of recovery have started to sprout at the half-way point.

Benitez took charge of the Geordie outfit with 10 games to play and lost three of his first four in charge. It wasn't until the fifth that he secured a first victory in the 3-0 rout of Swansea City.

The way his side then fought back to secure a 1-1 draw at home Manchester City suggested that they will at the very least keep fighting until the death to stay in the topflight.

And this recovery to snare a 2-2 draw against in-form Liverpool was further proof that he has nurtured a spirit and helped create a momentum that could yet see him remain in charge of the Magpies as a Premier League club next term.

Reminders of how to triumph in adversity were all around Benitez at the start of proceedings as the Kop once again thanked him for Istanbul on only his second time back at Anfield in the opposition dugout.

Watching his old, red-hot side appear to halt the recovery of his current one in a disappointing first half would have been painful, as would seeing the adoration once bestowed upon him now firmly lavished on Jurgen Klopp.

But in truth, this was always something of a free-hit for Newcastle. Yes, games are running out and they remain in the drop zone but few expected them to pick up points at a venue where they have not won since April 16, 1994.

Take That were number one back then with 'Everything changes' which is a phrase that would no doubt have passed through his mind as he made the all too familiar walk through the inner sanctum of Anfield, before taking an abrupt turn to his left and the away dressing room.

Once upon a time the Reds' famous hallowed turf was his chessboard. He was the Kop's very own Garry Kasparov, a tactical grandmaster who oversaw some great victories, particularly on the European stage.

That tactical nous and ability to drill organisation into his players has slowly started to take effect at Newcastle, though it admittedly went AWOL early on against Liverpool.

Some half-time reorganisation helped them get a foothold in the game and eventually take advantage of woeful defensive play from the hosts. The stomach for the fight that Benitez has helped stir was there for all to see and they managed to escape from L4 with what had looked like an unlikely point that maintains their recent impetus.

Newcastle's next two matches will now take on an even greater significance. Benitez will have identified them as 'must-win' on his arrival when he did the maths on points they could realistically acquire in their remaining games. A home clash with Crystal Palace next weekend is followed by a trip to already relegated Aston Villa. Maximum points are essential if the Geordies are to pull off the great escape.

It is surely a three-way fight to be the one team to avoid joining Aston Villa in the Championship next season which means the Magpies must pip Norwich City and Sunderland to the promised land that is 17th place.

On paper, Norwich, who are currently just outside the drop zone, face a daunting run-in. They travel to Arsenal next before hosting Manchester United and Watford. They finish with a trip to Everton.

Sunderland's final fixtures do not look as tough which means Newcastle can't afford to drop many more points. The Black Cats could move three points clear of their derby rivals if they secure a shock win at home to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon. They then visit Stoke and entertain Chelsea and Everton prior to a very winnable final day meeting with Watford.

It is likely to go to the wire which Newcastle will be happy to take at this juncture. They had been written off prior to Benitez. They were a side bereft of spirit and their Premier League pulse was fading.

As Geordie legend Alan Shearer suggested, Benitez has at least instilled some belief within the squad and hope for supporters. Their final home game against title-chasing Tottenham could have implications at both ends of the table, but with Rafa at the helm there remains a chance the atmosphere at St James Park on May 15 won't resemble that of a wake.

Relegation had looked inevitable during Steve McClaren's final days at the club, but as this result proves once again, you would be foolish to ever write a Benitez team off - regardless of how much the odds are stacked against them.