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Featured Image Credit: talkSPORT
Topics: Troy Deeney, Virgil Van Dijk, Anthony Gordon, Newcastle United, Premier League
Luke Davies
Topics: Troy Deeney, Virgil Van Dijk, Anthony Gordon, Newcastle United, Premier League
Troy Deeney made a questionable claim about Virgil van Dijk during Newcastle vs Liverpool on Monday evening.
Former Premier League striker Deeney was speaking on talkSPORT during the clash at St James’ Park when he made a rather outlandish claim following Anthony Gordon’s red card.
Just before the half-time interval, Gordon intensely closed Van Dijk down but mistimed his challenge, which initially caused referee Simon Hooper to brandish a yellow card.
However, after being recommended to view the VAR monitor, the referee upgraded his decision to a red card, leaving the Magpies down to ten men with a full half of football to play.
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And apart from the Newcastle supporters inside the stadium, most pundits and fans agreed that the England international’s challenge was worthy of a red card.
Even Newcastle legend Alan Shearer admitted that the challenge deserved a red card when he posted on X.
Shearer wrote: “What a stupid challenge, man. It’s a red card all day.”
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Meanwhile, Thierry Henry, who was working for Sky Sports, shared a similar view.
“At the time it happened, I said it was a red,” Henry said. “Why put yourself in this situation?
“He [Anthony Gordon] gets carried away with what's been happening, but you can't argue.”
However, Deeney thinks Van Dijk played a part in getting Gordon sent off.
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"Virgil van Dijk has played a cute one as well," Deeney said on talkSPORT.
"He went down two or three times to make sure that VAR had a look at it. You can't argue, can you really? He's not in control of the pace, the tempo...
"I've been there as a striker as well. You want to get the fan base with you. He's gone from left back to left centre-half to the goalkeeper all the way up to Virgil, and he's thought, 'I'm gonna leave a little bit on you here.'"
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Deeney added: "That lonely moment when you're in the in the door in the changing room on your own, you start to think, 'oh my God, what have I done? Everyone's going to be hating me now'."