Liverpool Echo: Newcastle 2-0 Liverpool

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Liverpool had Pepe Reina sent off as they crashed to a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle in the Premier League at St James' Park.

The Reds keeper is now facing a three-match ban and will miss the FA Cup semi-final with Everton at Wembley after a flare up with defender James Perch late on.

Reina reacted angrily to being tripped up inside the box eight minutes from time and thrust his head towards Perch who went down clutching his face.

Contact was minimal but referee Martin Atkinson dismissed the Spaniard and left-back Jose Enrique finished the match in goal.

It rounded off a dismal afternoon for Kenny Dalglish's men in the North East as they were undone by a goal in each half from Papiss Cisse.

Dalglish made three changes following last Saturday's 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Wigan.

There was a start for Andy Carroll on his return to Tyneside, while Craig Bellamy came back in after four games out with a calf problem.

Youngster Jonjo Shelvey got his chance in midfield with Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Dirk Kuyt all dropping to the bench.

Carroll's hopes of a warm reception were swiftly dashed as his every touch was booed but the Reds started brightly.

Inside four minutes Shelvey's deflected shot from the edge of the box flew narrowly over and then Martin Skrtel nodded wastefully over from Steven Gerrard's free-kick.

Carroll was clearly fired up and he wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring.

The big frontman did brilliantly to get the better of Perch and went past keeper Tim Krul but then went down theatrically in the box. Carroll hoped for a penalty but received a yellow card.

Liverpool continued to dominant with Krul clawing Bellamy's deflected cross on to the bar.

The visitors should have had a penalty when Danny Simpson handled on the line after Newcastle had failed to deal with Gerrard's corner. However, to the Reds' disgust the offence wasn't spotted by the officials.

It had been one-way traffic but the Reds were stunned as the hosts claimed a 19th minute lead.

Hatem Ben Arfa picked out Cisse at the back post and he clinically dispatched a header past Reina.

The Reds responded and almost restored parity just before the half hour mark. Carroll beat Krul to the ball six yards out but headed on to the roof of the net.

Newcastle had created little yet they were almost handed a second goal in the 41st minute.

In his urgency to keep the ball in play close to the corner flag, Shelvey only succeeded in gifting it to Danny Guthrie. He had time to cross and picked out Cisse who sent a glancing header inches wide of the far post.

There was another major scare for the Reds early in the second half as Mike Williamson climbed highest in the box and nodded against the foot of the post.

Shelvey forced a good save from Krul but Liverpool struggled to get any momentum going and slipped further behind in the 59th minute.

Demba Ba's pass found the unmarked Cisse at the back post and he coolly slotted home his second of the afternoon.

Luis Suarez should have swiftly pulled one back as he latched on to the loose ball after Krul flapped at Enrique's cross. However, with the net gaping he allowed Perch to make the block.

Downing, Henderson and Kuyt came on for Carroll, Bellamy and Shelvey but there were no way back for the Reds.

With eight minutes to go Liverpool's misery was complete. Reina was angered by Perch's trip and squared up to the defender who went down dramatically.

When calm was restored Reina was dismissed and with the Reds having already used three subs Enrique went in goal.

Source: Liverpool Echo

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.