A Papiss Cisse brace sinked Liverpool to their sixth defeat in seven league games as Newcastle ran out 2-0 victors at the Sports Direct Arena. The result leaves Kenny Dalglish’s men in eighth, one point behind Everton.

Ex Newcastle players Jose Enrique and Andy Carroll returned to the ground of their former employers for the first time since joining The Reds. While Craig Bellamy also returned to the club he once played for.

Kenny Dalglish made three changes to the side that lost at home to Wigan last week. Bellamy, Carroll and Jonjo Shelvey were included to give Liverpool some added firepower upfront.

The visitors were quick of the blocks, Jonjo Shelvey’s deflected effort dipped just over. Martin Skrtel then met Steven Gerrard’s cross, but could only head over from 6 yards out.

Deafening boos engulfed the stadium as Carroll, Enrique and Bellamy touched the ball. The number 9 set out to silence them as he skipped past two challenges, finding himself through on goal. But he opted to go down under the challenge of the oncoming Krul. Referee Martin Atkinson waved away claims for a penalty, deciding that Andy Carroll went down without contact and awarded him a yellow card.

Liverpool then replied once again, this time Craig Bellamy’s cross was deflected, and then tipped onto the cross bar and over by Krul. The woodwork coming back to haunt The Reds again.

As the corner came in, there appeared to be a blatant handball on the line by Simpson denying a goal. More misfortune.

Liverpool were then made to pay for their lacklustre finishing and dubious refereeing decisions when Papiss Cisse headed home a beautiful cross from Ben Arfa in the 19^th minute.

The visitors were left frustrated, not for the first time this season, opponents scored with their first opportunity as Liverpool asserted their dominance.

However, Andy Carroll could’ve levelled the scores, but could only direct his header onto the roof of the net after Williamson’s deflection looped up into the air.

Down the other end, Liverpool were lucky not to go into halftime 2-0 down. Cisse narrowly heading Danny Guthrie’s cross wide.

At 1-0 down, Liverpool started the second half uninterested. Gerrard created the first opportunity for the visitors when he played a searching through ball for Bellamy, but the Welshman was an inch away as Krul collected.

Then, in the 55^th minute things got worse for the visitors, but extremely better for Newcastle and their number 9.

Demba Ba’s pass for Ben Arfa found Papiss Cisse, Reina advanced to close him down, but the number 9 evaded the challenge leaving himself the simple task of scoring in an open goal.

Replays clearly showed that the Senegalese forward was in an offside position when the initial pass was played and therefore the goal shouldn’t have stood. Continued heartbreak for Liverpool courtesy of the officials.

Luis Suarez almost replied instantly as he got possession ahead of Tim Krul, but Perch denied the number 7 with a fantastic goal line clearance. Another chance spurned. A familiar sight this season.

Proceedings went from bad to even worse when Pepe Reina was shown a red card after an altercation with Perch. The Newcastle defender stuck out a leg, purposely tripping over the Spaniard as he collected a cross. Rather stupidly, Pepe Reina reacted with minimal contact as he met his head on Perch’s.

Obviously the intense vigour of the head butt forced Perch to the ground, grabbing his face in anguish.

With all 3 substitutions used up, Jose Enrique finished the game in place of Pepe Reina in goal.

The performance of Liverpool reflected the date, a joke. Although, it was no laughing matter for Liverpool supporters. There was no passion in the play throughout the game, no belief after going down 1 nil, or even 2nil. There was no drive from midfield. An afternoon of “what ifs” and what could’ve happened, but the sad truth is the scoreline. Newcastle 2-0 Liverpool.

Something needs to be addressed. Something needs to change.

Sikander Najib @AttackoftheKop