The Mike Dean Show strikes again for Newcastle as they lose to Liverpool

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Newcastle United fans were worried when they saw Mike Dean would be refereeing Thursday night’s clash with Liverpool.

And it turns out they were right to be worried. The Tranmere Rovers fan played a key role in Liverpool’s equaliser.

The Magpies had done brilliantly to go one up, with a fast counterattack leading to Jonjo Shelvey netting his first goal of the season.

After holding the lead for 14 minutes, Liverpool equalised via Diogo Jota. But there is no way the goal should have stood.

The build-up to the goal came from a Liverpool corner. Andy Robertson’s cross was headed clear by Jamaal Lascelles, but Liverpool recycled possession and Jota made it 1-1 after his first effort was denied.

But Jurgen Klopp’s side never should have been allowed to play on. Newcastle had two players down injured in the box, one of which was Isaac Hayden who had a clear head injury.

The wrongdoing doesn’t come from Liverpool. It’s not their job to put the ball out.

But Mike Dean has to stop play. Surely the rule still remains that play stops when there’s a head injury? It clearly was that – you could tell by the way Hayden went down.

This wasn’t the end of Dean’s controversial moments. He denied Newcastle a penalty in the second half, with Ryan Fraser impeded by Trent Alexander-Arnold in the box.

It wasn’t an obvious spot kick, but on first inspection it looked as if the Reds defender had gone through Fraser to get the ball. And as the rules state, that’s a foul. But Dean waved it away, and VAR failed to intervene.

Then, to put the icing on the cake, Dean did his best to get in the way of Martin Dubravka’s line of sight as TAA thundered home Liverpool’s third.

It was incredibly frustrating for Newcastle, who have every right to feel aggrieved about the way the game was officiated. But that’s the way it goes when you’re at the bottom – things don’t go your way.

And it’s to be expected when you’re the supporting cast in the latest instalment of the Mike Dean Show.