Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer deliver blunt Anthony Gordon Liverpool appeal verdict but Richard Keys disagrees

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer deliver blunt Anthony Gordon Liverpool appeal verdict but Richard Keys disagrees

The pundits have been having their say on Anthony Gordon's sending off, which will see the Newcastle United forward miss the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool

Anthony Gordon leaves the pitch after being shown a red card during Newcastle United's FA Cup defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion (Image: George Wood/Getty Images )

Anthony Gordon's sending off for Newcastle United against Brighton & Hove Albion has been one of the big talking points of the footballing week. Not because it was the wrong decision, but more because of what it means.

The former Everton winger was shown a straight card by referee Anthony Taylor during the fifth-round tie at St James' Park for pushing Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke in the face .

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It cost Newcastle on the day as they eventually went down 2-1 to the Seagulls after extra-time. But Gordon's moment of madness could have a more far-reaching impact.

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That's because the England international has been hit with a three-match ban that will rule him out of the Magpies' Premier League clashes away to West Ham United and at home to Brentford - and, more importantly, the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday, March 16.

That will be a bitter blow to Gordon, who has made it clear since his acrimonious departure from Everton, who sold him to Newcastle for £40m in January 2023, that his real allegiances lie on the red half of Merseyside.

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The boyhood Liverpool supporter could well appeal against the sending off but Magpies legend Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker do not believe he will have a leg to stand on.

“First and foremost, Anthony Gordon, what have you done? He must be sitting there after the game - I bet he didn’t sleep last night,” Lineker said on Monday's edition of The Rest is Football podcast.

“He’s got himself a three-game ban, he’ll miss now the Carabao Cup. Eddie Howe said after the game ‘we’re going to have a look at it and if we think we can appeal we will’, but I don’t think there’s a chance in hell. It’s a real shame in a moment of utter madness."

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Shearer, Newcastle's all-time leading goalscorer, agrees with Lineker. He said: "Crazy. Even if they decide to appeal, they’ve got no chance of winning it because it was a clear red card. I haven’t got a clue what he’s doing.

"I know you get drawn into the moment of the game and all that but it has to be in your mind, thinking, you actually should know that anything stupid, then you’re in danger of missing the Carabao Cup final.

"And I just think that’s a massive blow for Newcastle. A stupid thing to do and not only has he cost his team yesterday, he could cost his team in the Carabao because he’s one of Newcastle’s big-hitters and he’s having a very, very good season."

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However, former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys believes Gordon has a '50-50' chance of winning his appeal, pointing to the fact that his suspension carries the same weight as the one initially handed out to Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts following his sending off for a horror challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Crystal Palace striker Mateta was taken to hospital and needed 25 stitches for a severe laceration to his left ear after being kicked in the head by Roberts during Saturday's FA Cup tie at Selhurst Palace, which the hosts won 3-1.

Writing in his latest blog, Keys said: "I know why Anthony Taylor sent Gordon off at Newcastle. Gordon was daft and probably deserved to go, but it’s mad to think right now he’ll serve the same ban as Roberts.

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‘I hope Newcastle appeal it. I’d say they’d have a 50-50 chance of winning. I’d like to see them win it. Gordon should be allowed to play in the Carabao Cup Final.

"I’ve argued for years when it comes to a final we want to see the best players on the pitch. It’s a showpiece so why not?

"If we restricted punishments to the competitions bookings or red cards were picked up in - that would happen more often. If you’re sent off in a league game your ban should apply to league fixtures. The same with the FA Cup."

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