Alan Shearer slammed ‘stupid’ Anthony Gordon after the Newcastle star was sent off during their 3-2 defeat to Liverpool.
In an enthralling Premier League clash dubbed the ‘Alexander Isak derby’ due to the long-running saga surrounding the striker’s determination to force through a move to Liverpool, passions understandably ran high.
8
8
But Gordon was guilty of being a little too enthusiastic in his attempts to win the ball as he scraped the back of Virgil van Dijk’s right leg when sliding in.
Gordon won none of the ball and was given a yellow card by referee Simon Hooper, however, VAR urged him to look at the incident again on his pitchside monitor.
And Hooper subsequently upgraded the yellow to a red, deeming the challenge on the Liverpool captain as serious foul play.
Magpies legend Shearer couldn’t believe what he saw from Gordon, posting on X: “What a stupid challenge man. It’s a red card all day.”
talkSPORT’s Troy Deeney agrees that the decision was just about right but suggested that Van Dijk played his part in Gordon getting sent off.
“Virgil van Dijk has played a cute one as well,” Deeney said live on talkSPORT.
“He went down two or three times to make sure that VAR had a look at it. You can’t argue, can you really? He’s not in control of the pace, the tempo…
“I’ve been there as a striker as well. You want to get the fan base with you.
“He’s gone from left back to left centre-half to the goalkeeper all the way up to Virgil and he’s thought, ‘I’m gonna leave a little bit on you here.'”
Deeney added: “That lonely moment when you’re in the in the door in the changing room on your own you start to think, ‘oh my God what have I done? Everyone’s going to be hating me now’.
8
8
8
“It’s a long long uphill battle for this Newcastle team but for Liverpool this is perfect.”
At the time of the incident, Newcastle were already trailing 1-0 with a long-range strike by Ryan Gravenberch opening the scoring.
Things got even worse less than 30 seconds after the start of the second half with Hugo Ekitike, who turned down a move to Newcastle to join Liverpool, firing the Reds’ second from just inside the box.
But the ten men of Newcastle fought back brilliantly make it 2-2; Bruno Guimaraes pulling a goal back with a header on 57 minutes.
And the equaliser came on 88 minutes through substitute Will Osula, with the striker bundling the ball home after Liverpool failed to clear a long ball by Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope.
However, there would be one final twist when 16-year-old starlet Rio Ngumoha put Liverpool back in front with a powerful finish in the tenth minute of stoppage-time.
8
8
8
Liverpool have looked far from their best so far this season, but have won all three points for a second match in a row.
Newcastle on the other hand will be gutted to have not held onto a precious point having had one less player for the second half.
