‘They’ve crossed the line’ – Jamie Carragher reveals who’s really to blame for Virgil van Dijk’s horror tackle
Liverpool and Newcastle United delivered the kind of show that matched all of the pre-match hype.
Much of the talk around Anfield was fuelled by Alexander Isak’s transfer speculation, but as the game unravelled, it was the events on the pitch that hooked fans.
One of the key turning points was Anthony Gordon’s red card for a late tackle on Virgil van Dijk, which catapulted the game on its head.
Indeed, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was quick to point the blame, and it was not at the Magpies’ make-shift striker.
Jamie Carragher points finger at Newcastle United hierarchy
Carragher criticised Liverpool’s defending before kick-off, and the Reds had to do plenty of that in the early stages.
As expected, Eddie Howe’s side were up for it, and Arne Slot’s defence had to be alert for the majority of the first half.
However, Ryan Gravenberch delivered a sucker punch for the Merseyside outfit before a pivotal moment.
Gordon wildly lunged in late on Van Dijk, receiving a yellow card, only for it to be upgraded to a red by VAR.
- Gordon has received three red cards in his career – all for the Magpies
- His other two sending-offs came against West Ham and Brighton
- Likely to face a three-match ban for last night’s antics
Speaking at half-time, Carragher spoke openly on Sky Sports on 25 August about who he really thought was to blame for the 24-year-old’s rash challenge.
He said: “There was always the chance that Newcastle could lose a player tonight. We’ve seen banners in the crowd.”
David Jones replied: “Get into them, they said.”
Carragher: “Yeah, there’s been people, you know, even their ownership on social media, get into them, it’s like sometimes you need to play with your brain, and obviously here as well.
“And they’ve done that brilliantly in the first half, they were fantastic, dominated Liverpool. Liverpool were not at the races, didn’t compete in the duels, which is what Arne Slot was saying that he wanted Liverpool to do before the game, and they didn’t do that.
“But there they crossed the line, and ultimately it looks like it could cost them.”
Liverpool promise to be the great Premier League entertainers
While it is only two games into the season, it looks as if the Reds are going to be a decent watch.
After two games, they have delivered seven goals and conceded four in what has resembled a basketball match at times.
Indeed, with the forward players that they have in their ranks, it is unsurprising that this narrative has played out.
In Hugo Ekitike, Slot has one of the most composed forwards in the world, and he will be eying the Golden Boot already.
Whether this style of play will work across the whole season is unknown, but it will not matter one bit for the neutral.
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