NEWcastle may have played only once at the weekend but their defeat at Manchester City, coupled with Middlesbrough's loss at Anfield, dealt their Champions League aspirations a double blow.

Add to that Aston Villa's triumph over Spurs yesterday, which moved them up to fourth, albeit temporarily, and there's no doubt Sir Bobby Robson will be a frustrated man this morning.

An enormously disappointing and damaging result at Kevin Keegan's City, followed by Boro's inability to carry out a damage limitation excercise on Newcastle's behalf, means Robson's side are now playing catch-up on both Liverpool and David O'Leary's surprise package.

Now three points and two places behind Liverpool, who still occupy the fourth and final Champions League place, defeat to fourth-from-bottom City may prove extremely costly to the Magpies.

But United still have a game in hand and what could prove to be a huge match at Anfield to come - all of which makes defeat to City that much more galling as a win there would have kept Newcastle right in the hunt.

A team chasing UEFA Cup glory shouldn't be losing to a team who, on Saturday at least, were a candidate for the Nationwide League next season. Despite the game in hand and the crunch clash at Liverpool in two week's time, Paulo Wanchope's winner was a hammer blow to United and just as damaging was Middlesbrough's defeat yesterday.

As Steve McClaren's men drift towards another finish in the no man's land that is mid-table obscurity, following defeats at Wolves and at home to Aston Villa, the edge has been taken off Boro's season.

Aside from a Ugo Ehiogu's stab at earning a place in the England Euro 2004 squad, and with a UEFA Cup place already in the bag, there wasn't a great deal of incentive for Middlesbrough at Anfield so, to Newcastle's irritation, perhaps they could have been forgiven had they not been at full throttle.

But in a lively opening they matched their hosts stride for stride, looking more than keen to do their North-East neighbours a favour. The game started at a frenetic pace with tackles flying in from both sides, while there were opportunities to open the score at both ends.

Michael Owen hit the base of the post for Liverpool and Harry Kewell saw two efforts beaten away by Mark Schwarzer, but Boro created chances of their own with Joseph Desire-Job having his team's best opportunity - a low shot from 16 yards was saved by Jerzey Dudek's legs.

Bolo Zenden's free-kick wasn't far away from the target either, while Massimo Maccarone hit the side-netting as Boro pressed for the opener in a surprisingly entertaining game. Franck Queudrue, however, seemed to adopt a rather more relaxed approach, finding time to roll his short shirt sleeves up so high that he appeared to be wearing a vest, earning a stiff rebuke from his manager.

With Boro's blunt attack continuing to prove their Achilles heel, Liverpool finished the half the stronger and looked more dangerous on the attack.

Liverpool, who brought on Emile Heskey at the break, continued where they left off in the second period and scored a quick-fire double to effectively settle the game and make the Magpies' lot more difficult.

Danny Murphy's penalty and Heskey's close-range goal stunned Boro and shortly afterwards McLaren hauled off the largely ineffective Maccarone. Once again he provided more evidence, if it were needed, that Middlesbrough could be a much better team if only they had one player capable of scoring 20 goals a season.

Although perhaps it was only ever a dream, Boro's hopes of a Champions League spot could have come closer to reality had they a striker this season with a little more potency than £8.5m Maccarone - six goals this season is not enough.

With well over half-an-hour remaining and with a two-goal lead, Liverpool closed the game up and although Middlesbrough did make a fight of it, they couldn't prevent their third consecutive defeat and with it Liverpool's return to the coveted fourth place that Villa had held for 45 minutes yesterday.

The league table suggests it's these two teams that are in the driving seat, but all is not lost for the Magpies as they still have a game in hand over Liverpool - a potentially difficult match at Southampton a week on Wednesday - and this Saturday Robson will fancy his chances when relegated Wolves travel to St. James' Park, while Gerard Houllier's side face a very tough task at Birmingham.

Seven days later Newcastle go to Anfield and if, between now and then, results go the Magpies' way, much as they did for Liverpool at the weekend, then fourth-place will still be up for grabs.