Liverpool's stuttering season took a turn for the worse as they were beaten by a Sunderland side who went above them in the Premier League table.
The Black Cats went ahead when a Darren Bent shot was allowed to stand after deflecting in off a beach ball, which a Reds fan had thrown on to the pitch.
Bent then headed just wide before hitting the post with an angled shot.
Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon pulled off a double save from Dirk Kuyt and David Ngog late on to secure the win.
A fourth defeat of the league season will only add to the question marks over Liverpool's title credentials after they were outplayed without injured midfielder Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres.
Ahead of a week in which they face a crucial Uefa Champions League tie against Lyon and host Manchester United, they only added weight to critics who label them a two-man team.
Liverpool were lethargic and looked at unease with a 5-4-1 formation manager Rafael Benitez had opted for as he tried to cope with injuries and tiredness after the recent internationals.
Benitez was probably hoping that full-backs Glen Johnson and Fabio Aurelio, as well as wingers Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun, would have more of an impact going forward.
But Sunderland, with a near-capacity 47,000 crowd behind them, did not let Liverpool settle and aggressively took control of the game before being rewarded with the lead in somewhat fortunate circumstances.
Bent's shot went in off a beach ball and, to compound Liverpool's misery, it was one punched on to the pitch by one of their own fans.
Bruce doubts Bent's 'balloon goal'And, despite protests from the Liverpool camp, referee Mike Jones deemed the goal legal - despite the rules of football suggesting he should have awarded a dropped ball - with Bent's tally for the season going to eight.
Sunderland were the opposite of Liverpool as they showed the greater desire and dynamism, with the midfield axis of Lorik Cana and Lee Cattermole proving a forceful and tireless presence.
The home side's manager had challenged his players to produce the consistency in performance which earned an impressive 2-2 draw at Manchester United last time out and they did not disappoint.
Liverpool were limited to long-range strikes and Babel, Aurelio and Premier League debutant Jay Spearing each put efforts wide as Sunderland's defence stood firm.
Bent nearly added to Sunderland's lead when he got on to the end of a Phil Bardsley cross - after Reina had missed the ball - but the striker's glanced header went agonisingly wide.
He also pounced on a Martin Skrtel's headed passback only to nod past Reina and shoot against the outside of the post from a tight angle.
Sunderland suffered the loss of influential duo Cattermole and striker Kenwyne Jones, but coped admirably as they held off a Liverpool side lacking ideas.
England call on Foster
Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster has been called into the England squad for Wednesday's 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifier against Belarus as a replacement for the suspended Robert Green.
Foster originally missed out on selection after being sent for scans on bruised ribs sustained in Manchester United's Barclays Premier League encounter with Sunderland last weekend. However, at the time it was viewed as little more than a convenient excuse for England coach Fabio Capello to sideline the 26-year-old, who had been blamed for Kenwyne Jones's second-half header for Sunderland - just two weeks after he was held responsible for two Manchester City goals in the pulsating 4-3 derby win at Old Trafford.
But, with Green ruled out of Wednesday's game following his dismissal in yesterday's defeat to Ukraine, Capello has opted to show faith in Foster, who has been cleared to join up with the England camp after scans revealed nothing untoward. It is ironic that Foster should benefit from someone else's absence, given the number of times he has had to pull out of international squads himself as a result of various inuries.
For Green, serving a one-match ban will be a painful experience after he started the last seven internationals under Capello. Eager to make an impression following the recall of David James, the West Ham United goalkeeper lasted just 15 minutes at the Dnipro Arena before he brought down Artem Milevskiy after a mistake from Rio Ferdinand.
Initially, it seemed Ferdinand would take the punishment when he was shown the red card by referee Damir Skomina, which frustrated Capello intensely. However, after consultation with fourth official Darko Ceferin, the decision was eventually reversed with Green the man dismissed.
Foster originally missed out on selection after being sent for scans on bruised ribs sustained in Manchester United's Barclays Premier League encounter with Sunderland last weekend. However, at the time it was viewed as little more than a convenient excuse for England coach Fabio Capello to sideline the 26-year-old, who had been blamed for Kenwyne Jones's second-half header for Sunderland - just two weeks after he was held responsible for two Manchester City goals in the pulsating 4-3 derby win at Old Trafford.
But, with Green ruled out of Wednesday's game following his dismissal in yesterday's defeat to Ukraine, Capello has opted to show faith in Foster, who has been cleared to join up with the England camp after scans revealed nothing untoward. It is ironic that Foster should benefit from someone else's absence, given the number of times he has had to pull out of international squads himself as a result of various inuries.
For Green, serving a one-match ban will be a painful experience after he started the last seven internationals under Capello. Eager to make an impression following the recall of David James, the West Ham United goalkeeper lasted just 15 minutes at the Dnipro Arena before he brought down Artem Milevskiy after a mistake from Rio Ferdinand.
Initially, it seemed Ferdinand would take the punishment when he was shown the red card by referee Damir Skomina, which frustrated Capello intensely. However, after consultation with fourth official Darko Ceferin, the decision was eventually reversed with Green the man dismissed.
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Ronaldo ruled out of qualifier
Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Portugal's final 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifier against Malta on Wednesday due to a right ankle injury.
The Real Madrid winger insisted he was fit to start against Hungary last night after spraining his ankle during his club's UEFA Champions League win over Marseille on 30 September. He lasted 27 minutes before being substituted in the 3-0 win over Hungary in Lisbon in which Carlos Queiroz's team moved into pole position for a play-off spot in Group 1.
"After the medical examination and the failure to recover from the injury he has suffered in his right ankle, Cristiano Ronaldo was given permission to leave the Portugal national squad," read a statement from the Portuguese federation.
"Therefore, the player cannot play the team's next match on Wednesday, October 14, in Guimaraes, against Malta."
Two goals from Simao Sabrosa and a header from Liedson earned Portugal their first home win in the qualifying campaign last night. That, coupled with Sweden's 1-0 defeat away to Group 1 winners Denmark, enabled the Portuguese to move into second place in the pool, a position they can hold if they beat Malta.
The 24-year-old had made an impact before his departure,as his shot in the 18th minute was fumbled by goalkeeper Gabor Babos and Atletico Madrid winger Simao reacted quickest to tuck away the loose ball and set his side on their way to victory.
The Real Madrid talent was then replaced by former Manchester United team-mate Nani.
The Real Madrid winger insisted he was fit to start against Hungary last night after spraining his ankle during his club's UEFA Champions League win over Marseille on 30 September. He lasted 27 minutes before being substituted in the 3-0 win over Hungary in Lisbon in which Carlos Queiroz's team moved into pole position for a play-off spot in Group 1.
"After the medical examination and the failure to recover from the injury he has suffered in his right ankle, Cristiano Ronaldo was given permission to leave the Portugal national squad," read a statement from the Portuguese federation.
"Therefore, the player cannot play the team's next match on Wednesday, October 14, in Guimaraes, against Malta."
Two goals from Simao Sabrosa and a header from Liedson earned Portugal their first home win in the qualifying campaign last night. That, coupled with Sweden's 1-0 defeat away to Group 1 winners Denmark, enabled the Portuguese to move into second place in the pool, a position they can hold if they beat Malta.
The 24-year-old had made an impact before his departure,as his shot in the 18th minute was fumbled by goalkeeper Gabor Babos and Atletico Madrid winger Simao reacted quickest to tuck away the loose ball and set his side on their way to victory.
The Real Madrid talent was then replaced by former Manchester United team-mate Nani.
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