LONDON  - Papiss Demba Cisse scored both goals as Newcastle inflicted fresh Premier League misery upon 10-man Liverpool with a 2-0 victory at St James' Park on Sunday.
The Senegal striker made it seven goals in as many Premier League games for Newcastle with a 19th minute header and a close range-finish just shy of the hour mark to boost their challenge for a Champions League place.
Liverpool were reduced to 10 men with eight minutes remaining as goalkeeper Pepe Reina was sent off after he appeared to headbutt Newcastle's James Perch.
By then Liverpool had used all their substitutes, so full-back Jose Enrique, one of several former Newcastle players in the visitors' team, had to go between the posts.
The result condemned Liverpool to a sixth defeat in seven league matches and left them in eighth place, one position below Merseyside rivals Everton -- and 11 points adrift of Newcastle.
Cisse's display was in marked contrast to that of Andy Carroll, the former Newcastle striker signed by Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish for £35 million in January last year.
Carroll, who has scored only five league goals since arriving at Anfield, was booked for diving when, with the game still goalless, he went to ground after rounding Magpies' keeper Tim Krul rather than shoot at his old home ground. Victory left Newcastle in sixth place but level on points with Chelsea (fifth) and just two behind Tottenham Hotspur, currently occupying the fourth and final Champions League place on offer to English clubs.
Carroll stormed off after being substituted late on. Dalglish said that Carroll's reaction was unfortunate.
"The boys have shown frustration and that's probably why Pepe Reina was sent off. It was the frustration of being behind," he told the BBC.
"When Andy Carroll comes off and runs up the tunnel it purely disappointment and frustration. It's all very well having that but we have to manage that and channel it in a proper way.
"If we don't stick together and have trust in each other it is going to be a lot more difficult."
As for Carroll's booking for diving, Dalglish added: "I don't think it was a penalty and I don't think he went down deliberately to get a penalty.
"He (Carroll) said he never went down, he stumbled over. It wasn't a penalty. We don't have any disagreement with Andy going down and with the Pepe Reina decision either."
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said of Reina: "He was frustrated. He's done something you can't do as a professional footballer. He put his head in one of our player's faces."
Tottenham will draw level with third-placed north London foes Arsenal if they beat Swansea at White Hart Lane later Sunday.
Meanwhile Premier League leaders and reigning champions Manchester United will go five points clear of second-placed local rivals Manchester City, with seven games remaining, if they beat Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford on Monday.