Alan Shearer has blasted Anthony Gordon as ‘stupid’ after the Newcastle star was sent off for a reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk in the first half of their clash with Liverpool.
Gordon was initially given a yellow card for the tackle in first-half stoppage time before it was upgraded to a red by referee Simon Hooper following a VAR review.
The Newcastle forward had sprinted a considerable distance before sliding at pace into Van Dijk, who was left with visible stud marks on his leg.
‘After review, the Newcastle United number 10 commits a serious foul play challenge,’ Hooper announced to the crowd at St James’ Park.
‘The challenge is with speed and makes clear contact on the Liverpool number 4’s calf. My final decision is red card to Newcastle United number 10.’
Newcastle legend Shearer was furious with Gordon, who is deputising up front for Alexander Isak after the Swedish star went on strike in order to force a move to Liverpool.
Anthony Gordon was sent off for a reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk in the first half
Van Dijk was left with visible stud marks on his leg following the tackle from Gordon
Referee Simon Hooper was sent to the monitor and changed his decision to a red card
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‘What a stupid challenge man. It’s a red card all day,’ Shearer wrote on X.
Jamie Carragher labelled Gordon as ‘daft’ and suggested the Newcastle man may have been too amped up amid a raucous atmosphere inside the stadium.
Thierry Henry, working alongside Carragher on Sky Sports, said: ‘In our time it would have been a foul maybe a yellow not a red.
‘At the time that it happen I thought it was red. Why do you put yourself in this situation? He gets carried away with what’s been happening.’
Gordon was applauded off by Magpies fans despite the tackle, which came with the home side trailing 1-0 after a Ryan Gravenberch goal against the run of play.
His red card deals a further blow to Eddie Howe, who will be without Gordon for three matches and with Isak still on the sidelines amid his stand-off with the club.
Liverpool doubled their lead through Hugo Ekitike – a transfer target for Newcastle before he moved to Anfield – just 22 seconds after the restart.
Bruno Guimaraes gave the 10-man hosts hope by reducing the deficit three minutes before the hour mark and William Osula appeared to have rescued a point when he equalised late on.
But young star Rio Ngumoha ensured the Reds would leave with all three points as he swept home in the 100th minute to steal a dramatic 3-2 victory.
