Liverpool beat Newcastle 3-2 in their second Premier League game of the season on Monday evening.
The Reds were on the back foot for most of the clash with the Magpies, arguably deserving to win more than Arne Slot’s men did.
Newcastle had 10 men on the pitch for the vast majority of the game, but with the way that Liverpool performed, it felt like the Reds were the ones with a player down.
Anthony Gordon’s red card was well deserved as the Englishman chose to run across the length of the pitch and, instead of getting the ball, he took Virgil van Dijk’s legs out and dragged his boot down his calf.
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool reacts after being fouled by Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United, which results in a red card following a VAR review to upgrade to the initial yellow card during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
And, from that point on, you’d have expected Liverpool to dominate, but in reality, that was far from the case.
Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher were left baffled by Anthony Gordon’s challenge
When Gordon’s challenge on Van Dijk is slowed down and zoomed in, it doesn’t feel like it’s red-card worthy.
However, when seen in real time, it’s evident that the former Everton man lost his head and chose to take the Newcastle attacker out.
This action caused Alan Shearer to dub the attacker “stupid”, which, to be quite frank, was a nice way of putting it.
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Many expected the meeting to be a grudge match, but, with the way that things panned out, it was likely worse than many thought, with Newcastle staying angry throughout the game.
And, while live on Sky Sports in quotes relayed by the BBC Sport website, Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry gave their thoughts on Gordon’s challenge.
At the time it happened, I said it was a red. Why put yourself in this situation,” Henry said.
“He [Anthony Gordon] gets carried away with what’s been happening, but you can’t argue.”
Carragher then gave his thoughts and added: “Sometimes you have to play with your brain. Newcastle crossed the line and it looks like it could cost them,” Carragher said.
Newcastle may have beaten Liverpool if Anthony Gordon stayed on the pitch
Even though losing a player didn’t affect Newcastle all that much, they’d have likely been too much for Liverpool to handle if they had Gordon leading their line in the second half.
The Englishman put in an impressive performance during the first half of the clash with his speed, alongside his keen eye for a pass, among the things that set him apart from everyone else.
Indeed, there were a couple of chances that he made a mess of during his time on the pitch, which, if Alexander Isak were playing, would have no doubt been buried.
Alexander Isak wags his finger during a Premier League match between Newcastle United and Aston Villa at St James' Park.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
At the moment, it’s anyone’s guess what Liverpool will do between now and the transfer deadline, but, with the way that things have panned out thus far, it’s anyone’s guess what could happen.
However, one thing is for sure: if Slot doesn’t sign any more players, he could find himself in a whole world of trouble due to the lack of depth he has among his defensive and attacking ranks.