Liverpool hit new low as Chelsea extend lead

Meanwhile champions Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table to four points with a 2-0 win over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge that cast fresh doubt on their London rivals’ bid to a mount a title challenge.

In the day’s other match, big spenders Manchester City leapfrogged Manchester United into second place after a 2-1 win at home to Newcastle.

But all eyes were on Anfield, where Blackpool won for the first time since 1967 to leave Liverpool with just one win in the league from seven games so far this season.

Charlie Adam fired Blackpool into a 29^th-minute lead from the penalty spot before Luke Varney scored what proved to be the Tangerines’ winner on the stroke of half-time.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, as he’s done so often for his hometown club, helped the Reds back into the match when from his free-kick Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos ran on to head in a 53^rd-minute goal.

Kyrgiakos almost snatched a point for the Merseysiders late on but was denied by a brilliant save from Blackpool keeper Matt Gilks in a match where Liverpool striker Fernando Torres limped off after just 10 minutes with a groin problem.

Before kick-off some Liverpool supporters staged the latest protest against feuding American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who many Anfield regulars blame for saddling the club with a debt mountain they believe has restricted their ability to sign top-class players.

But manager Roy Hodgson refused to blame off-field distractions for Liverpool’s poor start, telling Sky Sports: ‘It was a start we could never envisage but we’ve got to live with it and do something about it.’

Glen Johnson’s foul on Varney allowed Adam to open the scoring before Varney made it 2-0 when he shot past Pepe Reina following Gary Taylor-Fletcher’s flick-on.

Didier Drogba put Chelsea into a 39^th-minute lead in Sunday’s late game, flicking in Arsenal old boy Ashley Cole’s cross before Alex made the points safe in the closing minutes with a swerving free-kick.

Earlier, Manchester City’s Adam Johnson came off the bench to score the winner in a 2-1 victory over Newcastle as Roberto Mancini’s side climbed to second in the table.

Johnson had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes before he fired City in front with a quarter of an hour left at Eastlands after Carlos Tevez’s early penalty had been cancelled out by Newcastle’s Jonas Gutierrez.

‘What is pleasing is that the players have shown that there is substance in the result,’ City assistant manager Brian Kidd told ESPN.

Defeat for Newcastle was made worse by the early loss of Hatem Ben Arfa with a suspected broken leg after a crunching challenge by City’s Nigel de Jong.

‘It seems as if he’s got a broken leg,’ Newcastle manager Chris Hughton.

‘When something like that happens and then to have some incredible decisions go against us, it’s hard to take.’

City took an 18^th-minute lead when Tevez scored from a questionable penalty after he tumbled over the sliding challenge of Mike Williamson.

But six minutes later Newcastle were level when Gutierrez followed up his own half-cleared cross to shoot into the top of the net from 12 yards.

However, in-form substitute Johnson had been on the pitch only a matter of minutes when he put City 2-1 up with a quarter of an hour remaining.

The winger collected the ball out on the left, beat a couple of defenders and then shot low into the far corner.