Elliot Anderson reacts after first Newcastle start ends in early disappointment

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Nick Pope wasn’t the only Newcastle United player who had a night to forget against Liverpool, as Elliot Anderson‘s first Premier League start ended prematurely.

The 20-year-old was named in Eddie Howe’s starting XI in place of Joe Willock, who had picked up a hamstring injury in the previous game against Bournemouth.

It was a huge show of faith from Howe, whose decision to start Anderson meant that he could keep the 4-3-3 shape that has served him so well.

For Anderson, it was his 11th Premier League appearance of the season. However, it was his first ever as a starter.

Unfortunately for Anderson, it ended earlier than anticipated.

Elliot Anderson forced off after Nick Pope red card

After going 2-0 down early on against Liverpool, the worst was yet to come. Nick Pope was sent off in the 22nd minute for a handball outside his area.

It meant the Magpies would have to play the rest of the game with 10 men, while it ruled the goalkeeper out of the cup final.

Pope’s red also forced Newcastle into an early change, as it meant an outfield player would have to make way for a replacement goalkeeper. Unfortunately for Anderson, he was the one withdrawn to allow Martin Dubravka to come on.

It was massively disappointing for Anderson, who will have been dreaming about his first Premier League start all season. But a moment of madness meant it was already over midway through the first half, through no fault of his own.

Ironically, the incident that led to Pope being sent off came from a Newcastle free kick that was won by Anderson. He did brilliantly to dance past multiple Liverpool players, then moments later he had to be taken off.

Anderson’s reaction to disappointing first Premier League start

After the game, Anderson took to his official Instagram account to comment on his first Premier League start.

He wrote: “Special day making my first start in the premier league. Didn’t go as planned but got a big week ahead of us to look forward to!”

The game did not go as planned for Anderson, but there will be plenty more opportunities coming his way in a Toon shirt. Hopefully Howe can give him another Premier League start in the coming weeks.

An appearance at Wembley could also be on the horizon, with the local lad likely to feature on the bench for this weekend’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.