Man U vs Newcastle: The red card for Nick Pope in the home game against Liverpool has created a goalkeeping crisis at Newcastle United. Second choice Martin Dúbravka is also not eligible to play for the League Cup final that is approaching.
Newcastle fired off in the encounter at St. James’ Park, but it was Liverpool who took the lead against the odds in the tenth minute through Darwin Núñez. Trent Alexander-Arnold sent the Uruguayan away with a beautiful pass and Núñez finished convincingly: 0-1.
Seven minutes later it even became 0-2 for the visitors. Mohamed Salah served Gakpo at just the right time. Kieran Trippier lifted offside, allowing the Dutchman to take the ball and shoot past Nick Pope.
For Newcastle, the poison cup was not empty then. In the 22nd minute, Alisson Becker served the sprinting Mohamed Salah with a long kick. Newcastle keeper Nick Pope alertly came out of his goal to head the ball away, but completely misjudged the situation.
When he realized he was not reaching the ball with his head, he reflexively hit the ball with his hand, well outside his own penalty area. In panic, the goalkeeper then also kicked teammate Trippier upside down when he kicked the ball away.
The repercussions of the red card
Pope was immediately sent off in the first half of the game with Liverpool (0-2) on Saturday evening after he made hands far outside his own penalty area. Many at St. James’ Park thought of next Sunday’s cup final when the England goalie retreated. The red card means that Pope cannot play against Manchester United.
Dúbravka came on as a substitute against Liverpool, but the reserve goalkeeper cannot be used at Wembley next week either. The 34-year-old Slovak played on a rental basis at Manchester United in the first half of this season. Erik ten Hag already lined up the experienced keeper twice in the League Cup tournament. Players are not allowed to play for two different teams in one edition of the Cup Tournament.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe also authorized the loan of Karl Darlow to Hull City at the end of January and now has only two options left for the position under the crossbar. He has to choose between Loris Karius and Mark Gillespie. Karius was signed on a free transfer in September and has not played once since. In early November, the former Liverpool player even lost his place as second goalkeeper to Darlow. Gillespie is a thirty-year-old Englishman who has been under contract with Newcastle since mid-2020. The former goalkeeper of Carlisle United, Motherwell and Walsall made just three more appearances for The Magpies.
The loss of Pope is very sour for Newcastle, which has the least conceding defense in the Premier League with the England international under the crossbar. Until the home game against Liverpool, the team had only collected thirteen goals in the competition. Howe did not want to say on Saturday evening whether Karius is preferred or whether Gillespie will start.
