Kenny: No complaints...except we should have had a penalty

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish was convinced his side should have had a penalty when Danny Simpson appeared to handle on the goal line but had few other complaints about the result in a game where his goalkeeper Jose Reina was sent off for headbutting Magpies defender James Perch.

"We had chances and we were unfortunate not to get a penalty, and that would have left us playing against 10 men," he told Sky Sports News.

"Then they got the goal, which from our point of view was disappointing, and the boys showed frustration and maybe started feeling sorry for themselves.

"Pepe got frustrated and got himself a red card and Andy marched up the tunnel (after being substituted), he was frustrated and disappointed for himself and at the result.

"There's no problem with the red card for Pepe but there is a problem that we never had a penalty kick."

On Carroll's booking, he added: "I don't think it was a penalty but neither did I think Andy was trying to get a penalty.

"The decision not to give a penalty was correct but it was harsh to show him a yellow card, he was always struggling to keep his balance."

Opposite number Alan Pardew had a contrasting view on the Simpson incident and also defended the decision to award his side's second goal, when Cisse was clearly offside when Demba Ba passed the ball but a possible touch off Hatem Ben Arfa or his marker meant the flag stayed down.

"That little touch, by that time the Liverpool player is level and he's onside," Pardew claimed. "It's a rule none of us managers like but that's how it is."

On the penalty appeal, he added: "It hit (Simpson) high on the shoulder, I'd be very surprised if the referee gives that - it's not a hand sticking out, I thought it was fine.