Van Dijk openly commented on Anthony Gordon’s red card

Van Dijk bluntly stated after the match that he would “not understand football” if Anthony Gordon had escaped a red card in Liverpool’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Newcastle United.

The controversial incident happened in stoppage time of the first half, with Liverpool leading 1-0 thanks to Ryan Gravenberch’s goal. Gordon made a studs-up challenge that caused Van Dijk pain in his right leg and left a deep mark. Referee Simon Hooper initially showed a yellow card but, after consulting VAR, upgraded it to a sending off. This decision sparked outrage among fans at St James’ Park.

After the game, Van Dijk said: “I told him, if that’s not a red card then I don’t understand football anymore. It’s strange that the referee had to go to the screen to review it. Whether intentional or not, the incident happened. We have to accept it and move on.”

This red card is the third in Gordon’s career and highlights a dip in his form, as he has gone 14 games without scoring or assisting. Previously, the 23-year-old forward was sent off in the FA Cup and once again in the Premier League for two consecutive yellow cards in a match against West Ham.

The dismissal decision continues to fuel debate on social media. Some fans believe it was a dangerous foul, while others sarcastically claim Liverpool often receive favorable VAR decisions. Additionally, inconsistency was noted when Gravenberch’s rough challenge on Bruno Guimaraes was overlooked by the referee.

Despite the controversy, Van Dijk returned to play and helped maintain Liverpool’s rhythm. Newcastle equalized through Guimaraes and Will Osula, but the historic moment came in stoppage time when 16-year-old talent Rio Ngumoha scored the decisive goal. His composed strike not only secured three valuable points but also made Ngumoha Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer ever, marking a memorable milestone early in his career.