ACCORDING TO LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers, there is no quick and easy remedy for the team’s problems in front of goal.

Speaking in the aftermath of a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle – the second successive game in which the Merseysiders failed to score, Rodgers admitted that the transfer of Luis Suarez to Barcelona as well as Daniel Sturridge’s injuries has had an enormous effect.

There’s no magic formula. We’ve got nearly 80% of our goals missing from last season in the player that we sold and Daniel Sturridge. So we’re trying to find ways to win games. So far this season it’s been hit and miss. We haven’t been good enough in some games and in others we’ve looked fine.”

In what was a dull performance at St. James’ Park, Liverpool again lacked a cutting edge up front with Mario Balotelli starved of any service.

The Italian was pushed to the wing when Rodgers introduced Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini to salvage something from the game. Elsewhere, Raheem Sterling was well-shackled and Philippe Coutinho found it difficult to exert an influence.

Performance-wise, we had enough of the ball, we had good possession but we never created enough in and around the final-third. And when you can’t create you have to keep a clean-sheet so for us to give away the goal that we did, which was a very disappointing goal…and it’s ended up costing us the game. We’re bitterly disappointed because we’d hoped to be better in terms of that quality in and around the final-third.”

Newcastle win fourth straight game as Liverpool stumble once again

As it happened: Newcastle vs Liverpool, Premier League