Newcastle vs Liverpool referee gives two reasons for sending off Anthony Gordon

Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon was sent off against Liverpool because he challenged with speed and made contact on Virgil van Dijk. The England international was given his marching orders in stoppage time at the end of the first half, with his team trailing 1-0 in the Premier League encounter at St James' Park.

Gordon was named up front for Newcastle in the absence of Alexander Isak, who has refused to play for the Magpies while he pursues a transfer to Liverpool. But the 24-year-old failed to make it to the end of the first half as the home side were reduced to 10 men. And his sending off made Newcastle's unenvious task of trying to overturn a one-goal deficit against the reigning Premier League champions even harder.

With the first half almost over, Gordon jumped in to challenge Van Dijk, who was attempting to play a long ball forward.

The Newcastle man caught Van Dijk's calf as the Netherlands international landed in a heap on the ground.

Referee Simon Hooper initially brandished a yellow card for the challenge, with Gordon seemingly getting off lightly following the foul.

But after a VAR review from Hooper, the referee upgraded the booking to a red card as Gordon was forced to leave the pitch.

And explaining his decision, Hooper announced: "After review, the Newcastle United No. 10 commits a serious foul play challenge.

"The challenge is with speed and makes clear contact on the Liverpool number four's calf. My final decision is red card to Newcastle United No. 10."

Hooper's decision was backed by a host of former Premier League stars. Ex-Newcastle striker Alan Shearer, who scored a record 260 Premier League goals, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "What a stupid challenge man. It's a red card all day."

Meanwhile, former England and Manchester City captain Steph Houghton explained on BBC's Monday Night Club: "There's no doubt about it, that's a red card. That's rash."

And Arsenal icon Theo Walcott added: "It's a striker's tackle. He's gone with the wrong leg. He's still got that fire in the belly and he's not thinking there at all.

"It always looks worse when it's slowed down but Virgil van Dijk wouldn't go down if he wasn't hurt. It's a red card for me."

Walcott's former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry then told Sky Sports: "At the time it happened, I said it was a red. Why put yourself in this situation? He gets carried away with what's been happening, but you can't argue."