Saturday 4 February 2017 21:43, UK
Liverpool's worst winless league run under Jurgen Klopp extended to five games on Saturday as Hull beat the Reds 2-0 at the KCOM Stadium.
An error from Simon Mignolet allowed Alfred N'Diaye to mark his debut with Hull's opener just before half-time (44) and Oumar Niasse - on loan from Everton - rubbed salt in Liverpool's wound with a late second (84).
The result moves the Tigers onto 20 points, one behind Swansea in 17th place, and continues their revival under new manager Marco Silva, who has won all four of his home games in charge.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have won just once in their last 10 games in all competitions and could fall out of the top four if Manchester City avoid defeat to Swansea on Super Sunday.
Klopp made two changes from the 1-1 draw against Chelsea, recalling Sadio Mane for his first start since January 2 following Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Lucas Leiva came in for the injured Dejan Lovren in their other change, while Hull made five alterations from the starting line-up that took a point from Manchester United.
Silva handed debuts to Kamil Grosicki and N'Diaye and an injury suffered by Michael Dawson in the warm-up gave Andrea Ranocchia the chance to make his first league start since moving from Inter Milan.
Despite the disruption, Hull looked a settled side and frustrated Liverpool throughout a scrappy first half. The visitors were restricted to one opportunity of note when Eldin Jakupovic saved well from Philippe Coutinho.
And Silva's side took the lead with a goal just before the break through debutant N'Diaye.
He capitalised on poor goalkeeping from Mignolet, tapping home from close range after the Liverpool stopper failed to claim under pressure from Abel Hernandez.
The Reds improved after the break and almost equalised when Mane rose above Andrew Robertson at the back post, but Jakupovic denied the Senegal forward with a smart stop.
Klopp introduced Daniel Sturridge but his side continued to labour in attack, with Coutinho again guilty of spurning their best chance when slicing wide from seven yards.
Hull retained a threat on the counter and Hernandez twice went close to grabbing their second, before his replacement Niasse sealed the game with six minutes to play.
The Everton loanee latched onto Ranocchia's fine through ball as two of Silva's January signings combined, with Niasse slipping his finish under the advancing Mignolet.
It capped a superb counter-attacking performance by the hosts, who will look to stretch their unbeaten league run to three games when they face Arsenal next Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
Liverpool's disastrous January has bled into February and they now face a fight to hold onto a top four spot, with the visit of Tottenham up next.
Player ratings
Hull: Jakupovic (7), Robertson (7), Maguire (8), Ranocchia (8), Huddlestone (8), Evandro (7), Grosicki (7), N'Diaye (8), Clucas (7), Elabdellaoui (7), Hernandez (7)
Subs used: Niasse (7), Meyler (7), Tymon (7)
Liverpool: Mignolet (5), Clyne (6), Lucas (5), Matip (6), Milner (5), Henderson (6), Can (5), Lallana, (5), Coutinho (5), Mane (5), Firmino (5)
Subs used: Sturridge (6), Moreno (6), Origi (6)
Man of the match: Alfred N'Diaye
