Cisse scores twice as Newcastle tops Liverpool

Papiss Demba Cisse scored two goals for the second straight weekend to guide Newcastle to a 2-0 win over 10-man Liverpool on Sunday, maintaining his team's unlikely challenge for European football next season. The Senegal striker kept up his stunning form since joining Newcastle from German side Freiburg in January, taking his tally to seven goals from seven games with well-taken strikes in the 19th and 59th minutes at St. James' Park. To add to Liverpool's misery, the visitors - who have lost six of their last seven matches - had goalkeeper Jose Reina dismissed late on for appearing to headbutt James Perch. The win kept Newcastle level on points with fifth-place Chelsea and reduced the gap to third-place Arsenal to five points.