Keegan confident of avoiding drop

Kevin Keegan believes his Newcastle side have the spirit and ability to escape relegation from the Premier League.

Fernando Torres scored his 19th league goal of the season to help boost Liverpool's bid to finish fourth with a 3-0 win over the struggling Magpies.

Jermaine Pennant and Steven Gerrard also scored in the victory.

Newcastle's latest defeat made it 12 league matches without a win, and if the teams below them all win their games in hand, the Geordies will be in the bottom three.

Keegan said: "Our players are a tight-knit group and we all believe we have the ability and quality to stay in this division.

"We are very confident of that. You need 40 points to stay up and we need four wins to do that. We will do it."

Benitez, meanwhile, was delighted with the growing partnership of Gerrard and Torres, and was able to withdraw them both in the second half to rest them in preparation for tomorrow night's Champions League clash against Inter Milan.

Benitez explained: "I must be happy with a performance like that.

"Three goals, three points, nothing conceded and I was able to rest key players ahead of the Champions League.

"In every way it was just a perfect day for us. Our confidence is growing, as is the partnership with Gerrard and Torres.

"They are working well and the other players are making sure they have the time and the space to show their quality and pace."

Shane Long and Dave Kitson scored as Reading claimed a 2-0 win over Manchester City at the Madejski Stadium which lifted them out of the relegation places.

Steve Coppell insists however that none of his Reading players can "relax" however despite the win.

"We have to accumulate a certain number of points, and we cannot relax in any way," declared the Royals manager.

"We are all on a mission to ensure we are playing in this division again next season.

"It is congested down there."

Relegation candidates Fulham managed to come from behind to salvage a point against Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Morten Gamst Pedersen had put Rovers ahead in the 59th minute with a header from Jason Roberts' cross.

Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard later curled home a free-kick into the top-left corner of the net to equalise in the 89th minute.

Roy Hodgson's side remain five points adrift of safety.

The former Inter Milan boss said: "Certainly the performance against a good Blackburn team was not unworthy of the three points today."