Liverpool extended its miserable run in the Premier League to just one win in eight games with a 1-0 loss at Sunderland on Saturday, further denting its hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner scored a 56th-minute winner for Sunderland, crashing home from close range after Fraizer Campbell's low shot came off the post and hit Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina on his head.
Liverpool was poor throughout in a game of few chances, barely troubling Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, and is now 10 points adrift of fourth-place Arsenal and Chelsea, who are level on points in the fight for the final Champions League place.
Liverpool's third league loss in a row - the first time the team has gone on such a run since 2003 - came two weeks after winning the League Cup for the eighth time.
''I don't think the performances that we have had, especially at home, have merited the number of points we have got,'' said manager Kenny Dalglish, whose team is in seventh place.
''But we just need to keep going and do what we do well, keep our mouths shut, not feel sorry for ourselves and try to get as many points on the board as we can.''
Bendtner was carried off on a stretcher in the 83rd after hurting his knee in a clash with Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, joining an absentee list that currently includes suspended pair Stephane Sessegnon and Lee Cattermole.
Sunderland ended a three-game winless run in the league to move up to eighth, two points behind Liverpool.
''With the changes that we had to make with influential players out of the team, I couldn't really have asked for much more. It was a great effort by the team,'' Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill said.
