Liverpool put in a tired performance against Newcastle on Wednesday and can count themselves lucky to have picked up even a single point in the end, meaning they haven’t lost as much of their lead at the top of the Premier League table as they could have done it otherwise – and perhaps deserved it.

On Wednesday, Liverpool took a 3-2 lead thanks to an 83rd-minute strike from Mohamed Salah and, deservedly or not, appeared to be on course to take all three points before isolated errors in the 90th minute An equalizer by Newcastle and an elimination resulted in two points for Arne Slot’s Reds.

“There were moments in the game where you thought if we could get away with a draw here that would be a good result,” Slot said after the game ended 3-3. “But these moments were mainly in the first half. In the second half, especially after we scored, I think we were really impressive.

“Then, with a minute left, it feels like a disappointment to have lost two points. But we have to give them credit, they were more intense than us. They forced us to make too many mistakes in the first 45 minutes, but it was difficult for them to maintain the intensity in the second half.”

It’s hardly a doomsday outcome. Liverpool remain at the top of the Premier League table. They have a seven point lead over Chelsea and Arsenal. They are nine ahead of a Manchester City team who they dominated last weekend en route to a 2-0 win – after eliminating Real Madrid in midweek.

It’s also probably inevitable that the rigors of the first four months of the season would sooner or later catch up with Slot’s outstanding Reds. That there would be a game in which important players looked visibly tired and the team just didn’t fit tactically, at least not as well and consistently as before.

Playing the game on Wednesday and still getting a point must be considered a success, even if the schedule of the game gives the impression that two points were lost at least as much as one point earned. Now all that matters is to put in a better performance in the derby against Everton on Saturday.