Virgil van Dijk shares his thoughts on Anthony Gordon’s red card tackle during Liverpool’s 3-2 victory at St James’ Park, revealing his exchange with the Newcastle winger after the reckless challenge.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has revealed the words he exchanged with Anthony Gordon after the Newcastle United winger was sent off for a dangerous tackle during their dramatic Premier League clash at St James’ Park on Sunday.
The Tackle and the Red Card
Newcastle made a fast start to the match, controlling large portions of the first half and creating several chances. However, it was Liverpool who struck first against the run of play through Ryan Gravenberch. But the momentum shifted when Anthony Gordon, deployed as a makeshift striker due to Alexander Isak’s absence, was shown a red card in the 45th minute.
Gordon’s reckless challenge on Van Dijk, which saw him catch the Dutch defender on the calf with high studs, was reviewed by VAR before referee Chris Kavanagh showed the England international a straight red.
Van Dijk’s Reaction
In his post-match comments, Van Dijk reflected on the exchange he had with Gordon as the winger made his way off the field. Speaking to Sky Sports, the Liverpool captain said: “I said to him, if that’s not a sending off then I don’t understand football. It was strange the referee had to go to the monitor in my opinion. Unfortunately, these things happen in football, if he meant it or not it happened, we move on.”
The Bigger Picture
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Newcastle fought back admirably. They equalized in the 88th minute, but 16-year-old wonderkid Rio Ngumoha sealed the victory for Liverpool in the 10th minute of stoppage time, making it a thrilling 3-2 win for the Reds.
Van Dijk praised his team’s resilience but acknowledged the need for improvement: “We all know it’s a difficult place to come. We know there was a lot of oil on the fire this week to get Newcastle fired up. What happened tonight was expected, and for us, the disappointing part was that we conceded two set pieces. That shouldn’t happen but overall, great three points, move on and focus on the next one.”
What’s Next for Liverpool?
With a perfect start to the season, Liverpool will face a tough test next Sunday when they host Arsenal at Anfield before heading into the international break. The Reds will be looking to maintain their 100% record as they continue their pursuit of the 2025-26 Premier League title.
