James Milner admits Liverpool need to 'kick on' as in-form Manchester United build pressure

Reigning Premier League champions now just three points ahead of their arch-rivals who have dropped just four points since November 1

NEWCASTLE UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: Karl Darlow - 9. The 30-year-old made a succession of brilliant saves to ensure a point for his team. Magnificent display to keep out Salah, Firmino and Mane. Getty Images

DeAndre Yedlin - 7. Picked out Wilson with a clever ball early on and shot wide in the first half. Carried out his defensive duties impressively and snuffed out danger in his own box. Getty Images

Ciaran Clark - 7. The Irishman was not distracted by an early booking and maintained his concentration. He was unlucky not to win the game for his side with a superb headed set-piece late on. AFP

Fabian Schar - 8. The Swiss capped a fine performance with a splendid clearance off the line. Stood strong at the back, especially late on as Liverpool piled on the pressure. Getty Images

Federico Fernandez - 7. The Argentinian was skinned by Mane on one early quick break but regained his composure and showed great anticipation in keeping Liverpool at bay. Distribution was good. PA

Matt Ritchie - 6. Never stopped running and put in relentless effort. Picked out Clark for his team's best chance. Withdrawn for Lewis in the 86th minute. PA

Matty Longstaff - 7. The 20-year-old found room in the midfield and was the creative hub of the side, spraying passes about the pitch. Getty Images

Isaac Hayden - 7. Brought balance to the home side's midfield and got forward to support the attack. Picked up a fifth yellow card for a foul on Thiago so will be out for the Leicester game. PA

Jacob Murphy - 6. The 25-year-old was composed on the ball on a night when Newcastle could not afford to give away possession. PA

Joelinton - 5. Holds up the ball well but rarely threatens the goal. The Brazilian's most memorable contribution came when he tried an overhead kick and completely missed the ball. AFP

Callum Wilson - 7. Tested Alisson from the wing and glanced a header wide in the early exchanges. The striker gave Phillips a torrid time in the first half but saw less of the ball after the break. Getty Images

SUBS: Miguel Almiron - 6. Replaced Murphy after 67 minutes. The Paraguayan can provide pace and guile but he contributed more to the defensive rearguard after coming on. PA

Jamal Lewis - 5. Came on for Ritchie and saw out the last four minutes without too many alarms. REUTERS

LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 7. The Brazilian was secure throughout and his fine save from Clark late in the game ensured that Liverpool did not end the year with a defeat. AP Photo

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 5. Not one of the full back’s better efforts. His crossing was below par, although he did produce the pass of the game with a ball that fizzed across the width of the pitch to Mane. PA

Nathaniel Phillips - 4. The 23-year-old’s strength is in the air but his lack of pace was exposed. Needs to use space more efficiently to compensate for this flaw. PA

Fabinho - 7. The Brazilian was calm and assured. He cut out a dangerous situation when Wilson shot from a tight angle. Given a yellow card for a cynical but necessary foul on Yedlin. Another composed performance. PA

Andrew Robertson - 7. Got up and down the left wing with gusto and delivered a number of tempting crosses, the best of which Firmino wasted. AP

Jordan Henderson - 6. The captain’s ability to move the ball quickly in midfield contributes hugely to the team’s style and he released Salah to set up a tempting chance. Looked a little tired. Getty Images

James Milner - 6. The 34-year-old put in a shift breaking up opposition attacks. Appeared a little rusty but worked hard. He was taken off for Thiago with 17 minutes left. AP Photo

Curtis Jones - 4. The 19-year-old was unable to make a difference from an advanced midfield position. He was replaced by Wijnaldum with 22 minutes left. PA

Mohamed Salah - 3. Missed two sitters, one in each half. The Egyptian found good positions but spurned the chances that came his way. A frustrating night. Reuters

Roberto Firmino - 4. Foiled by Darlow twice from headers, the Brazilian missed another when the goalkeeper flapped at the ball late on. Was let down by his control in the area when played in by Robertson in the first half. PA

Sadio Mane - 4. Never really got going. The Senegalese was not as sharp as usual and did not test the defence. He was unable to react quickly enough when Schar cleared off the line. Getty Images

SUBS: Georginio Wijnaldum - 5. Brought on to provide more energy in place of Jones with 22 minutes to go. Found room in the area but passed on the responsibility rather than shooting. Getty Images

Thiago Alcantara - 7. Joined the action in the 73rd minute when Milner was withdrawn. The midfielder was eager to get involved and showed off his passing range in a cameo that bodes well for 2021. AFP

Xherdan Shaqiri - 5. Sent on for Salah deep into stoppage time and had no chance to influence the game. PA

James Milner says Manchester United's improving form means Liverpool have to respond by "kicking on" in 2021.

The defending Premier League champions head into the new year with a three-point lead at the top, despite back-to-back disappointing draws against struggling West Brom and Newcastle.

Meanwhile, their arch-rivals, who have dropped just four points since November 1, could go level on points with them with victory over Aston Villa on Friday. The two teams go head-to-head at Anfield on January 17.

"I think it's a positive [Liverpool are top] but it seems to be at this moment in time that nobody wants to take it by the scruff of the neck," he told liverpoolfc.com.

"We've dropped points, everyone seems to be dropping points. United have had a good run and they're probably the only team who are putting a run together.

"It's important that we need to kick on now and try to get a few three-pointers. But the world is in a very strange place at the moment and it's the same in football.

"Everybody's lives are upside down, it's tough mentally for everybody and it's the same in football.

"Hopefully we can get out of this the other side and it's the same with football – we just need to keep plugging away.

"We've given absolutely everything. The boys are doing well. We'll stick together, we'll keep plugging away and we just need to get that final piece of the puzzle right.

"I thought it was a good performance [against Newcastle], we just needed that final bit to get the goals.

"If we keep playing like that, hopefully we can go on a run and put some more points on the board."

Liverpool have already dropped more points in 16 matches this season than they did in the whole of the previous campaign, which saw them race to their first title triumph in 30 years.

Last year, Jurgen Klopp's side did not lose a league match until February 29, having won all of their games except one – against United – up until that point.

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Liverpool 1 West Brom 1: player ratings

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It was evident the unique circumstances of this campaign, with its lack of a proper pre-season and a compressed schedule, would have some impact on results and a repeat of Liverpool's runaway success was never likely.

Nevertheless, Milner accepts they could still have done better. "Everything is completely different but it's the same in all walks of life at this moment in time so that's something we have to adapt to," he added.

"Whether that is stopping teams putting on a good run and being fully comfortable, I don't know.

"But that's where we are and we have to deal with it the best we can and push on. I think where we are in the league we would have liked to have got more points on the board.

"There's points we've dropped this season where we feel we could have done better but to still be in the mix going into the new year is good, especially with the problems we have.

"But we are a quality squad of players who have been together a long time and we are used to winning.

"We are disappointed not to get the three points [at Newcastle] but we want to get back on the winning track as soon as possible."