‘I’m no Newcastle supporter, but…’: Sunderland icon delivers verdict on refereeing decisions at Anfield

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Sunderland icon Micky Gray delivered his honest verdict on some of the decisions made by Mike Dean in the game between Newcastle United and Liverpool yesterday.

Eddie Howe’s men took an early lead through Jonjo Shelvey’s brilliant strike. Diogo Jota equalised for the Reds 14 minutes later, but every Magpies supporter feels that the goal shouldn’t have stood.

Isaac Hayden went down holding his head after hurting himself a few moments before the goal. Referee Mike Dean ignored it and Liverpool went on to score. That has irked many fans.

Ibrahima Konate’s challenge on Joelinton just before half-time and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s tackle on Ryan Fraser in the second half put the referee on the spot again. However, on both occasions, Newcastle were denied a penalty.

Micky Gray says Newcastle should’ve won two penalties against Liverpool

Gray, who played over 300 times for Newcastle’s great rivals Sunderland, sympathised with the Magpies yesterday. He feels that Howe’s men have every right to feel hard done by after three big decisions went against them last night.

He said on TalkSport: “Newcastle are in the Kop End. One of their players goes to ground. It was great play from Allan Saint-Maximin to put the ball in the area. If there’s no contact with the ball, it has to be a penalty!”

“Then in the second half, Ryan Fraser breaks through. He has got no reason to go to ground unless there’s contact! He’s going to get there first because he got the right side of Trent Alexander-Arnold. It has to be looked at!

“These are the decisions when you’re at the bottom of the league. They go for you when you’re at the top of the table. We all talk about that favour that some of the top sides maybe get. Newcastle should’ve got it tonight.

“I’m no Newcastle supporter, completely far from it. But I have to say, I felt for them tonight. And those decisions, they change games.”

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When a Sunderland man sympathises with decisions that have gone against Newcastle, you have to agree that the referee got them wrong.

Hayden’s head injury should have forced the referee to stop the game, while the two penalty decisions could have easily gone Newcastle’s way on another day.

Eddie Howe has every right to be furious, but he should also be proud of the way his side played yesterday. Liverpool usually batter their opponents at Anfield, but Newcastle can come away from the game with a lot of positives.