‘My intentions were genuine’ – Anthony Gordon breaks silence after red card in Liverpool clash
Anthony Gordon has broken his silence following the red card he received in Liverpool’s thrilling 3-2 win over Newcastle on Monday night.
With Liverpool leading 1-0 just before the break, the Newcastle winger caught Virgil van Dijk with his studs down the back of the defender’s calf, leaving clear marks. Referee Simon Hooper initially showed a yellow but, after being advised to check the VAR monitor, upgraded the punishment to a straight red, leaving Eddie Howe’s men with 10 players for the rest of the match.
Gordon apologises after dismissal
The 24-year-old has since expressed remorse for the reckless challenge on the Liverpool captain, stressing that he would never deliberately try to injure a fellow professional.
Speaking to The Independent, Gordon said: “I want to sincerely apologise to my teammates and the fans. My intentions were good – I was simply trying to bring energy into the game but mistimed the tackle. I also apologised to Virgil afterwards; he knows I’d never go in to hurt someone on purpose.”
Discipline under scrutiny
This was Gordon’s third red card in the last 18 months, following dismissals against West Ham in March 2024 and Brighton in last season’s FA Cup. That record is now raising fresh concerns about his discipline on the pitch.
The clash at St James’ Park was fiery throughout, and although players can sometimes be carried away in such atmospheres, Gordon’s lunge on Van Dijk was dangerous and could easily have caused serious injury. Fortunately, Liverpool’s No. 4 recovered and went on to put in a commanding display, unlike his struggling centre-back partner Ibrahima Konaté.
While Gordon deserves some credit for immediately accepting responsibility and apologising, he now faces a three-match ban – a blow for Newcastle given their limited attacking options and their firm refusal to sell Alexander Isak despite the striker’s push to leave.
For his own career, the England international must now show better self-control and avoid repeating the kind of reckless challenge that saw him sent off before half-time.
