The Reds travelled to Newcastle and after finishing with ten men we lost the game with little fight despite a good start and the worst part is probably the fact that Jose Reina will miss three games for his Red card after Perch left the ref with no choice by going down like he was shot.
The Reds switched the sides around for the kick off and the home side got things started.
Just three minutes in to the game and Shelvey saw a shot deflected up and over the bar. It was a decent start to the game for the Reds as it turned out with Skrtel heading just over the bar from a free kick a few minutes later.
On nine minutes the Reds really should have taken the lead when Carroll got the ball down well and left his man behind but with just Krul to go around and then score he went down for what looked like a penalty at first view. The ref decided straight away that it was a dive and booked Carroll. I've seen it again since and Carroll left his feet by the keeper to go down and the ref got the decision spot on.
On fourteen minutes Craig Bellamy saw a cross deflected and Krul flapped the ball away off the bar.
The Reds did have a penalty shout on sixteen minutes when Simpson kept the ball out with his arm on the line from a Carroll header. It wasn't given however and on replays I've seen after the game it was deliberate and should have been a red card and penalty. That said a replay is great but I do think the ref didn't see it but that's what you have a linesman for or in Europe on of those fifth officials.
Jonjo Shelvey picked up the second yellow of the afternoon when he went through the back of Cisse and although he got the ball the ref booked him.
On nineteen minutes and against the general play the home side took the lead as Cisse rose well behind Skrtel and out it across Reina and in at the far post.
The goal really set the home side up and the Reds slowly drifted away from the game for me after this. Andy Carroll came closest to scoring on twenty seven minutes when he headed just over the bar as the Reds broke down the right.
Newcastle for their part had more of the play now and Ba saw a long distance shot deflected wide off Skrtel and later Cisse headed just wide of the post from a cross after Shelvey had kept the ball in.
As the half time whistle went though the home side were on top and one up in sciring terms as well.
There were no changes at half time and the Reds started the match again. Just two minutes in and Newcastle so nearly scored a second when Williamson saw his header hit the foot of the far post.
Chiek Tiote picked a booking a minute later as he went in late on Flanagan. It was a case of getting things equalled up I suppose after Flanagan had been booked in the first half for going in late on Tiote.
On fifty five minutes the Reds went close when Gerrard slotted a ball through and Bellamy was just short of poking it past Krul but the chance went.
Four minutes later and the Reds were made to pay for the miss when Cisse made it two nil with his second goal. The Reds defence were parted clompletely open and Cisse was left alone at the back post when the ball finally came through to him and after dribbling around Reina he scored with ease. Having seen the goal again since I have no idead how he was not flagged offside as he was a good yard or two offside. At one nil you don't know what affect it has on the game but making it two nil and we were looking awful.
Luis Suarez had a chance just after the hour mark to pull a goal back but after he got to the ball first he saw his shot deflected wide off Perch.
As the game wore on we just looked more and more lost in our play. Former Red Danny Guthrie went off injured after sixty five mintes to be replaced by Gosling. Nine minutes later and two goal Cisse was replaced by Ameobi.
The Reds finally made changes on seventy five minutes with Downing replacing Jonjo Shelvey. Four minutes later and Kuyt replaced Andy Carroll who walked off straight down the tunnel. Jordan Henderson replaced Craig Bellamy at the same time.
The changes really didn't look like they were having any affect on us at all when the Reds went down to ten men. Jose Reina kept out a header well at the second attempt but as he tried to race out and start the play up for the Reds he was tripped up by Perch who certainly knew what he was doing. Reina reacted angrily at the trip and squared up to the defender and after the two heads went close Perch went down as if he'd had such a big head butt he was going to need lengthy hospital treatment. It all just exploded and Perch was nearly caught up in a second fight as the Reds rightly reacted to his down right cheating. That of course left the ref with little choice about his actions and Pepe had lost his head a bit really. As things died down Perch was called over and shown a yellow card and then the ref turned to Reina putting his yellow away which instantly told me it was going to be Red and that's what it was. With all the subs used Jose Enrique took up his place in the goal with Gerrard going right back and Flanagan across to left back.
As the game ended the Reds were never troubled at the back and it all ended quite tamely to be honest and I couldn't wait for the final whistle. At the rate we're playing i'm not exactly looking forward to the next game starting.
MotM : Jay Spearing - trioed hard in midfield and never gave up - unlike most of the others who looked down as soon as we conceded the first.
