Liverpool beat Newcastle 3-2 after Gordon red, faces three-match ban

Liverpool clawed a dramatic three-two victory from Newcastle United after Anthony Gordon’s red card, awarded following a VAR review of a late first-half challenge on Virgil van Dijk, left the hosts a man light for the second half. The result keeps Liverpool’s season moving forward, while Newcastle’s hopes were dented despite a fearless display, and Gordon now faces a three-match ban that compounds a growing striker shortage for Eddie Howe’s side.

Newcastle started on the front foot at St James’ Park, controlling large phases of the opening 45 minutes as Gordon, filling in as the central striker with Alexander Isak out, pressed Liverpool’s back line with intent. The home crowd’s energy matched Howe’s call for an electric atmosphere as Newcastle created several sharp chances, the clearest coming from Gordon himself in a sequence of three opportunities, the last of which narrowly cleared the bar after meeting a cross from Harvey Barnes.

Liverpool struck against the run of play when Ryan Gravenberch fired from outside the box, the shot clipping the post and finding the net off Nick Pope’s near post. The home side continued to push after taking the lead but were undone shortly before...