Five months ago, Newcastle United were on their way to becoming the richest club in the Championship. A 4-0 hiding on home soil to Manchester City could have easily been another nail hammered into the Magpies’ relegation coffin.
Instead, it proved the catalyst for a nine-game unbeaten run that spearheaded their surge for survival. Defeat to the champions at St James’ Park left United three points adrift despite playing two games more than 17th-placed Watford. Newcastle were limping towards the January transfer window - seen by many as the club’s last throw of the dice.
Of those who started that day, just four outfield players - Jamaal Lascelles, Miguel Almiron, Joe Willock and Joelinton - made the line-up against Liverpool last weekend. Astonishingly, two of the three players Eddie Howe axed from his 25-man squad one month after the City defeat started that day.
