‘No doubt’ - Former Premier League referee delivers verdict on key decision after Newcastle v Liverpool

Former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher has given his backing to John Brooks’ decision to show a red card to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk in Sunday’s game against Newcastle United.

The Magpies were a goal ahead midway through the first half after former Everton winger Anthony Gordon took full advantage of an error of judgement from Trent Alexander-Arnold before sliding the ball beyond Reds keeper Alisson.

There was another blow for the visitors within three minutes when Netherlands international Van Dijk was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Magpies striker Alexander Isak just outside of the area. Brookes decided Van Dijk had denied Isak a goalscoring opportunity and his call was backed up by VAR official Stuart Attwell, much to the frustration of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Speaking after the game, he said: “I don’t think it is a red card. It’s pretty much no contact, very little, and it’s on the way to the ball, but what can I say? The decision is like this, I cannot change it and I don’t want it. It’s just, would I give this in a training game? Definitely not. There are reasons why I am not a ref and they are.”

Klopp’s mood was somewhat different at full-time after two late goals from substitute Darwin Nunez helped his side punish a wasteful performance from Newcastle and secure a 2-1 win at St James Park to extend the German’s impressive record over United manager Eddie Howe.

However, former FIFA referee Gallagher insisted the officials made the correct call to dismiss Van Dijk and he explained why Brookes was ‘not at fault’ for showing a red card to the visitors captain.

He told Sky Sports: “Has he got an obvious goalscoring opportunity? Is he outside the penalty area?

“I think it’s a foul and once you give a foul you have to decide is he in possession of the ball or is he able to get possession of the ball. Yes, there’s not doubt about that. Will he have a clear run on goal? Well, once he gets the ball he’s going to run towards the goal. Is it outside of the area because of double jeopardy? Yes, he is so the referee has to send him off. If it’s in the area he has to decide if he has made a genuine attempt to play the ball and that’s the get out of jail card that saves him with a yellow card.

“But outside of the area, that rule applies, DOGSO (denial of a goalscoring opportunity). He gets the ball but he gets the man first, there’s no doubt about that, he gets his right foot. Most of the angles you see quite clearly it’s a foul. I don’t think anyone can dispute it’s a foul having seen the replays.

“What the argument is if he’s two yards further up the pitch it’s a yellow card but that’s not the referee’s fault.”