Jamie Carragher slams major Liverpool decisions as Van Dijk sees red vs Newcastle

Jamie Carragher was critical of two huge first-half decisions by referee John Brooks during Newcastle United versus Liverpool, one of which saw Virgil van Dijk receive a red card.

The centre-back was sent off in the 28th minute after taking down Alexander Isak as the Swede was about to run through on goal.

But former Reds defender Carragher was not convinced the foul was worthy of a red card, questioning whether or not it was a goalscoring opportunity for Isak.

“Van Dijk does a lot wrong – being lazy coming across and the challenge is ill-advised, but I don’t think there’s a red card. How do you know that’s a goalscoring opportunity?” he asked on Sky Sports.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was lucky to escape a red of his own moments earlier following a cynical foul on Anthony Gordon. The right-back was already on a booking for throwing the ball away not long before the incident, but Brooks decided against showing a second yellow.

Carragher felt the initial booking was incorrectly awarded, arguing that a free-kick should have been given to Liverpool after Gordon shoved Alexander-Arnold over the sideline.

“Trent deserves a yellow card,” the pundit said. “We know the rules, he throws the ball away, but the referee makes a rod for his own back. How is the shove from Gordon not a foul in the first place? How the referee doesn’t give a foul there is absolutely unbelievable.

“I think that’s why he doesn’t give him a second yellow moments later.”

Gordon gave Newcastle the lead in the 25th minute of the game, capitalising on a poor touch from Alexander-Arnold to stroke the ball home.

The Magpies could not see out the win however, conceding an equaliser to substitute Darwin Nunez, who similarly made the most of a defensive error to score in the 81st minute.

The Uruguayan scored again in injury time to snatch a sensational win for Liverpool.

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