Sunday Football Round-up: North East clubs on the brink

Premier League / Maxliu / 03 May 2009 / Leave a Comment

Shearer furious as Barton is sent off in Anfield defeat, Everton into fifth and the Blues are back in the top-flight...

Newcastle United are into [1.5] in Betfair's relegation market after they were comprehensively beaten by Liverpool at Anfield.

Goals from Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt put Liverpool 2-0 up in the first half before Lucas Levia's header rewarded backers of over 2.5 goals with minutes to play.

Alan Shearer, under whom Newcastle have now taken two points and scored one goal in four matches, left Michael Owen on the bench until the 80th minute but put the defeat down to slack defending. He was also furious with Joey Barton who was sent off for an unforgivable challenge on Xabi Alonso which saw the Spaniard leave the pitch on a stretcher.

Liverpool's match odds rose no higher than [1.33] and, three points off Manchester United at the top of the table, they are now [10.5] to win the Barclays Premier League.

Newcastle remain in 18th place and three points from safety with three games to play. Their nearest rivals, Hull City, play Aston Villa on Monday night.

Sunderland fared no better than their North East rivlas at home to Everton. The Black Cats currently trade at [4.4] and sit in 16th place, four points from the drop zone, after today's 0-2 defeat at the Riverside.

Sunderland did not play like a team whose top flight status is in jeopardy - instead they were lethargic, second to every 50/50 ball as goals from Steven Piennar and Marouane Fellaini took the Toffees into fifth place and sent home fans streaming from the stands long before the final whistle.

One team who will definitely be playing Premier League football next year is Birmingham City. Despite their fate going down to a final day clash with promotion rivals Reading, Alex McLeish's team traded no higher than [3.95] Betfair's promotion market. The Blues beat the Royals 1-2 at the Madjeski Stadium thanks to a Kevin Phillips goal on the hour.

Reading now go into the play-offs with Sheffield United, Preston North-End and Burnley.