Newcastle United will be without Anthony Gordon for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
That is agonising for Newcastle United fans, who already know that their team are the underdogs going into the 2025 Carabao Cup final.
Now the size of the task is even greater thanks to Anthony Gordon’s moment of madness. The winger was sent off as Newcastle exited the FA Cup, losing 2-1 to Brighton after extra time.
Gordon pushed Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke in the back of the head, resulting in Anthony Taylor giving him a red card.
The sending off means that Gordon is now suspended and will miss the game against Liverpool at Wembley.
What makes Anthony Gordon’s red card even more annoying for Newcastle United
For the second cup final in a row, Newcastle United will be without a key player due to suspension. In 2023 it was Nick Pope, while it is Gordon in 2025.
It is agonising for Toon fans, who are watching their team implode in the build up towards their biggest game of the season.
It was mindless from the 24-year-old, who pointed and laughed at Van Hecke after the incident. He obviously was not worried about a possible red card coming his way.
But it did, and unfortunately it was the correct decision. Gordon raised his hands and gave the referee a decision to make. While Newcastle could appeal the red card, they feel unlikely to be successful.
What makes the Gordon red card even more infuriating is how the passage of play played out.
Referee Anthony Taylor had already blown his whistle. Play had stopped, after the linesman had flagged Alexander Isak offside. There was no reason for Gordon to retrieve possession and carry on into the box – even if he was doing it at a reduced speed.
While he was clearly reacting to having his shirt pulled by Van Hecke, there was no need for that type of reaction.
Now it has cost Gordon his place in the final, while it damages Newcastle’s chances of ending their trophy drought.
How Anthony Gordon was playing against Brighton before his red card
After the game, all everyone is talking about is Gordon’s red card. Rightly so – it is the big moment of controversy.
But Gordon had already been struggling up until that point. He certainly was not having his best game on the left flank and looked frustrated at times.
About five minutes before the sending off, I thought to myself ‘Howe should probably take Gordon off’. By the 83rd minute, Gordon was coming off, but not by choice.
A poor performance was made even worse by a ridiculous red card – a moment of madness from Gordon that was completely avoidable.
Howe must now decide who should replace Gordon against Liverpool, with Harvey Barnes and Joelinton the leading candidates.
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