Things could hardly have gone worse for Liverpool in the first half against Newcastle United.
Knowing they would face a fierce atmosphere at St James' Park, it was clear right from the outset that they were massively unsettled on the pitch.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was arguably lucky to avoid a red card inside the opening five minutes, getting booked for throwing the ball away before then taking down Anthony Gordon to stop a counterattack. While he avoided punishment on that occasion, he was not so fortunate later in the half.
On that occasion his loose touch would allow Gordon to run in behind, with the winger finishing beyond Alisson to give Newcastle the lead.
ANTHONY GORDON 👏
What an error from Alexander-Arnold 😬 pic.twitter.com/ISDCQZze9J— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 27, 2023
Things soon got even worse for Liverpool.
This time it was Virgil van Dijk that was punished, receiving a straight red card when he fouled Alexander Isak, with the referee deeming it to be the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity.
A STRAIGHT RED CARD FOR VIRGIL VAN DIJK! 🟥 pic.twitter.com/29EDsiMPC3
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 27, 2023
Carragher & Given clash over Virgil van Dijk red card
There is no doubt that this was a foul from Virgil van Dijk, although you could perhaps debate whether it was the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity. Isak did not have the ball under control and there was no guarantee he would have got in behind without the Dutchman's intervention.
Jamie Carragher certainly believed the referee made the wrong decision.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said that while it was a foul from van Dijk, it should not have been a red card. This led to a heated exchange with former Newcastle man Shay Given, with tempers flaring in the studio.
"You can't just go around swiping strikers"
The Super Sunday panel argue over Virgil van Dijk's red card 🟥😠 pic.twitter.com/OpeDrbjmDj— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 27, 2023
Carragher: I think Virgil van Dijk does a lot wrong here. He is lazy initially in terms of not getting across, the decision to then make a challenge is probably ill-advised. I still don't believe that's a red card.
I don't think there's enough. How do we know that's a goalscoring opportunity?
Initially he is lazy, he should get over earlier. He shouldn't make the challenge, but that is not a red card...
Given: I disagree, I think it's a red card.
Carragher: Why?
Given: Because what Isak is doing as a centre forward, he's trying to let the ball run across him and then he is through one-vs-one against Alisson, so he is denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Carragher: But we don't know what would have happened. The red card is not about Virgil van Dijk giving a foul away, he gave a foul away and there is no doubt, but we don't know if he denied a goalscoring opportunity. Isak is actually ahead of the ball...
Given: I think it's the right decision. VAR had a look at it as well. I think John Brooks has got the right decision.
Carragher: The rules are denying a goalscoring opportunity, we don't know if it's a goalscoring opportunity.
Given: if he lets it run across him he's clean through.
Carragher: But we didn't get there.
Given: Because he got wiped out.
You can see both sides of the argument, although it seems clear that both men are batting for their former teams with their comments above.
Virgil van Dijk will certainly regret the tackle, even if he was adamant that he should not have been sent off.
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