Newcastle extend the misery for slumping Liverpool April 1, 2012 -- Updated 1523 GMT (2323 HKT) Newcastle beat Liverpool 2-0 in English Premier League Sixth defeat in seven for League Cup winners Liverpool Papiss Cisse scores both goal for Magpies Tottenham playing Swansea in late kickoff (CNN) -- Liverpool's disastrous run in the English Premier League continued Sunday with a 2-0 defeat at Newcastle - the sixth defeat in the last seven for Kenny Dalglish's men. Liverpool ended the match with 10-men after Spanish international goalkeeper Pepe Reina saw red for a head butt on James Perch with nine minutes to go. Two goals by Papiss Cisse either side of half time lifted Newcastle level on points with fifth placed Chelsea and maintained their a challenge for European football next season. By contrast, Liverpool remain eighth in the standings, with their hopes of Champions League qualification in tatters. It proved a disappointing afternoon for Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, who was returning to the club he left last season in a £35 million transfer, and left back Jose Enrique, who also went in the same direction. Carroll was booked early on for diving after rounding home goalkeeper Tim Krul and was substituted 11 minutes from time, appearing to vent his frustration with Dalglish as he went down the tunnel. His tally of eight goals in 48 games for the Merseyside giants compares unfavorably with Cisse, who has stepped into his shoes on Tyneside with seven in as many games. He headed in Hatem Ben Arfa's cross in the first half before tapping in from Demba Ba's set-up after the break. Liverpool had started the stronger but once Cisse scored the opener, it was Newcastle who took command to the delight of the capacity crowd of 52,000. Reina's dismissal was the final indignity and Enrique had to take over in goal with all their substitutes used up. Tottenham Hotspur were playing Swansea in Sunday's late kickoff, hoping to consolidate a Champions League spot. Leaders Manchester United play Blackburn Monday, looking to extend their lead over Manchester City to five points with a win. March 27, 2012 -- Updated 1315 GMT (2115 HKT) Football's version of the fabled David vs. Goliath battle will begin on Tuesday as Europe's top club competition kicks off its quarterfinal stage. March 27, 2012 -- Updated 1246 GMT (2046 HKT) CNN's Alex Thomas breaks down the Champions League quarterfinal matches. March 23, 2012 -- Updated 1437 GMT (2237 HKT) Football is part of the lifeblood of the people of Brazil. So it is a matter of national concern that the five-time world champions have never won an Olympic gold medal. March 21, 2012 -- Updated 1304 GMT (2104 HKT) Lionel Messi becomes Barcelona's highest goalscorer of all time after his hat-trick against Granada in a 5-3 victory. March 20, 2012 -- Updated 1532 GMT (2332 HKT) Lionel Messi is widely regarded as the world's best footballer -- and now it seems he is also unrivaled among his peers off the field. March 18, 2012 -- Updated 0023 GMT (0823 HKT) Fabrice Muamba's fellow footballers rallied around the Bolton player after he was admitted to hospital following a possible heart attack during a match. March 16, 2012 -- Updated 1412 GMT (2212 HKT) An 'El Clasico' European Champions League final between Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona remains a possibility. March 16, 2012 -- Updated 1051 GMT (1851 HKT) Barcelona defender Eric Abidal is to undergo surgery to replace his liver, according to a statement released on the Spanish club's website. March 15, 2012 -- Updated 1317 GMT (2117 HKT) Europe's top clubs face a race against time to comply with new rules that limit the amount they can spend. March 14, 2012 -- Updated 1636 GMT (0036 HKT) Once labeled the richest football club in Britain, Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers are now on the brink of extinction. March 8, 2012 -- Updated 2045 GMT (0445 HKT) When the Palestine team played in Nepal, probably only a few spectators knew their country faced another that does not technically exist.