Kevin Keegan admits Newcastle United are facing relegation after their latest defeat at Liverpool on Saturday.

He said: "We are in a relegation battle, no question. Unless you win games that is the situation you are in.

"We have drawn two and lost six since I have been back and that is relegation form in any league in the world, not just the Premier League.

"It is not a surprise we have been sucked into the battle at the bottom. Now we must find something from within ourselves to get back out of it again.

"We must make sure this club not only survives but builds and goes forward. So that one day we can go to Anfield and genuinely feel we have a chance of beating a big-four club. That is what we are all after."

He added: "We have to go to Birmingham next, and we also have Reading and Fulham soon. We still must get to 40 points, and we need four more wins to do that.

"We have the ability to pick ourselves up. We have had a few hammer blows in recent weeks but I am confident that with the players we have we can stay in this division.

"We do need luck. We will get a freak goal somewhere, we will hit the bar from 30 yards and it will go in rather than bounce out.

"Luck isn't going our way. And we needed every bit of luck against Liverpool because they are hitting good form now, and playing with the confidence that comes from winning and scoring goals."