Anthony Gordon warned about punishment after clashing with Liverpool star

The former Everton man caught Alisson high on the shin with a needlessly forceful tackle during Saturday's Premier League defeat to Liverpool, an incident which has been looked at by one former referee

Anthony Gordon could face retrospective punishment for his tackle on Alisson, claims one former referee(Image: Getty Images)

Former PGMOL chief executive Keith Hackett feels Anthony Gordon could face retrospective action for his foul on Alisson last weekend.

The Newcastle forward was something of a pantomime villain in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Anfield. Inside the first 11 minutes, the boyhood Liverpool fan pushed Alexis Mac Allister off the ball, before thundering into Alisson, catching him on the shin with an unnecessarily forceful sliding tackle.

The former Everton winger was shown a yellow card by referee Simon Hooper, a decision upheld by VAR, but Hackett felt Gordon could have been dismissed for the tackle, and may face further punishment.

“I think he [Hooper] missed it completely,” the former referee told Football Insider. “It’s one of these where you have to make your mind up.

“Is it reckless, and so that’s a yellow card, or is it reckless, excessive force with a degree of malice? That’s the judgment they have to make.

“It’s evident to me that VAR are sitting and saying: ‘I’m not getting involved at all’ and this exposes the referee because he may not have the best view.

Gordon was shown a yellow card for the tackle on Alisson(Image: Getty Images)

“Sometimes it is in a flash, or you have an obstruction with a player in front of you, but this is another player that has got away without a sanction.

“What I think has to happen is, the disciplinary panel at the FA have got to ask the match officials, ‘Did you see the incident, referee?’

“If not, then I think the FA could re-referee that incident and issue a sanction.”

Gordon was sent off against Liverpool in August(Image: 2025 Getty Images)

This is not the first time this season that Gordon’s on-field actions have riled Liverpool supporters. He was also sent off the corresponding fixture at St James’ Park in August.

The 24-year-old trod needlessly on the back of Virgil van Dijk’s calf in the first half, resulting in a straight red card. He also angered Liverpool fans on Saturday by celebrating in front of the Kop when he scored the opening goal of the game.

However, a Hugo Ekitike brace and goals from Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate saw Liverpool overturn the early deficit.

Gordon was booed throughout the game, although he nearly joined the Reds in the summer of 2024 due to Newcastle’s perilous PSR situation.

The England international’s disciplinary record also impacted Liverpool last season when he missed the Carabao Cup final following a red card he received in an FA Cup defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion.