LONDON, November 1, 2014 (AFP) – Liverpool slumped to their fourth defeat of the Premier League season on Saturday as Spanish substitute Ayoze Perez earned in-form Newcastle United a 1-0 victory at St James’ Park.

Liverpool, for whom striker Mario Balotelli endured another frustrating afternoon, were beaten when Perez pounced on a blunder by visiting left-back Alberto Moreno to score in the 73rd minute.

It was Newcastle’s fourth consecutive victory in all competitions, following their shock League Cup win over holders Manchester City in mid-week, and saw Alan Pardew’s side provisionally climb to ninth place in the table.

Runners-up to City last season, Liverpool are now nine points behind leaders Chelsea having played a game more.

“We were punished for a mistake and that is what cost us the game,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told BT Sport.

Balotelli ambled onto the pitch just as the second half kicked off, but Rodgers said “it had no bearing at all on the result”, adding: “It is not about Mario Balotelli, it is about the team.”

Rodgers’s side now face a daunting trip to European champions Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, before hosting Chelsea in the league next weekend.

Newcastle lost Gabriel Obertan to a thigh injury in the 25th minute, but they went close to opening the scoring when Glen Johnson had to head a shot by Papiss Cisse off the Liverpool line.

Martin Skrtel headed wide for Liverpool shortly before half-time and Tim Krul produced a sharp one-handed save to keep out a Philippe Coutinho header just before the hour, but it was Newcastle who broke the deadlock.

After an incursion down the Newcastle left led by Moussa Sissoko, the Frenchman’s pass into the box was intercepted by Moreno, but the Spaniard failed to clear and Perez lashed home his second goal in two games.

Newcastle substitute Remy Cabella saw an attempt to inflate the hosts’ lead thwarted by Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet after a one-two with Perez, but Pardew’s men held out regardless.

Leaders Chelsea host Queens Park Rangers later on Saturday, when they will be seeking to preserve their four-point advantage over second-place Southampton, who visit Hull City.

Fourth-place West Ham United are away to Stoke City, while Arsenal, who began the weekend in fifth, host winless bottom club Burnley.

The weekend’s headline fixture arrives on Sunday, when champions Manchester City — seeking a first win in four matches — welcome derby rivals Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium.