The 24-year-old was shown a yellow card by Simon Hooper in the 11th minute at Anfield for overtaking Alisson Becker with a late challenge. Replays showed the Magpies winger catching the goalkeeper off the ground with his studs up.
That incident came just after he had also bumped into Alexis Mac Allister, and he opened the scoring later in the first half before the Reds hit back to win handsomely.
Hackett suggests FA could reassess the Gordon incident
Hackett has called on the FA’s disciplinary panel to intervene and possibly impose a further sanction on Gordon over the tackle on Alisson.
Exclusively spoken against Football insider on The Final Whistle, the ex-PGMOL chief said: ‘I think he [Hooper] I missed it completely. It’s one you have to make a decision about. Is it reckless, and therefore a yellow card, or is it reckless, excessive force with a certain malice? That’s the judgment they have to make.
“It’s clear to me that VAR sits and says, ‘I’m not getting involved at all’; and this exposes the referee because he may not have the best view. Sometimes it’s in a flash, or you have an obstacle with a player in front of you, but this is another player who has gotten away without sanction.”
“What I think should happen is that the FA disciplinary panel should ask the match officials, ‘Did you see the incident, referee?’; and if not, I think the FA can review that incident and impose a sanction.”
Was Gordon lucky to avoid an early red card?
Gordon had been sent off for raking his studs down the back of Virgil van Dijk’s calf in the reverse match at St James’ Park earlier this season (Hooper was also the on-field referee that night), and in the first few minutes at Anfield on Saturday a red card appeared to await him.
He may have already been booked for the Mac Allister collision before the challenge against Alisson, which in itself could have seen another VAR team recommend an on-field review for a potential red card infringement.
Anthony Gordon booked a late challenge on Alisson
This could earn the Newcastle man a red card if he doesn’t calm down a bit
— Rijk van de Kop (@empireofthekop) January 31, 2026
The 24-year-old is a very talented footballer whose disciplinary record has improved in recent years – he was booked 10 times in 35 Premier League games two seasons ago, but just had it five yellow cards in 53 consecutive top-flight matches – but the opening minutes of last weekend’s match showed he can still bring down the red mist.
We don’t like to see players suspended unless it’s necessary or absolutely deserved, and Liverpool would gain nothing from a retroactive ban for Gordon, but the winger would be wise to keep his discipline in check based on his two performances against the Reds this season.
Most importantly, Alisson wasn’t injured by the Newcastle man’s challenge, but that doesn’t absolve the Magpies player of being unnecessarily hot-headed at the time, and we hope for his sake that he learns from it.
#Reckless.. #ExPGMOL #chief #claims #rereferee #incident #Liverpool #win