Anthony Gordon Set to Miss Carabao Cup Final Due to Suspension

NEWCASTLE, England – Anthony Gordon, the winger for Newcastle United, will miss the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on March 16 due to a three-match suspension following a red card incurred during an FA Cup tie against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

Gordon received the red card from referee Anthony Taylor after an incident where he pushed Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke to the ground. The dismissal occurred after Gordon expressed his frustration at being denied a penalty for a previous challenge during the match.

The 24-year-old, who has started 25 out of 27 Premier League matches this season and scored nine goals across all competitions, will not be available as Newcastle aims for its first major trophy since 1955. This is a substantial blow for manager Eddie Howe, who had recently benefited from the return of key players.

Red cards in the Premier League carry over to all domestic competitions, including the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, meaning Gordon’s suspension will affect his participation in those tournaments. This ruling stands true as red card offenses from cup competitions can lead to bans for Premier League matches as well.

Eddie Howe’s side has had their share of challenges in cup competitions; during their previous Carabao Cup final appearance in 2023, goalkeeper Nick Pope was also suspended due to a red card received in a Premier League match against Liverpool.

The match against Brighton ended in an intense fashion with both teams reduced to ten players after Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey received a second yellow card in the dying minutes. The game finished 1-1 after regulation time, leading to additional play.

Gordon’s absence could put additional pressure on Howe. The forward remarked recently on the significance of the upcoming final, stating, “I’m so excited. It will be my first club appearance at Wembley. These are the moments I live for.”

Newcastle will have one Premier League match against West Ham before facing Liverpool. Meanwhile, Liverpool is set to play three games before the final, including a Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.