Newcastle United midfielder Lee Bowyer will serve a three-match ban after his claim for wrongful dismissal against Liverpool was rejected on Thursday.

Bowyer had appealed to the FA's disciplinary commission after being red-carded in Monday's Premier League defeat -- with his ugly challenge on Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso leading to a melee.

The three-match ban starts with immediate effect, ruling Bowyer out of this weekend's league game against Tottenham Hotspur.