Newcastle were unlucky in their 3-1 defeat to Liverpool – and even Sunderland legend Micky Gray felt sorry for them!
The Magpies argued that the Reds’ equalizer should have been ruled out due to a head injury to Isaac Hayden, while also being denied a penalty in both halves.
But referee Mike Dean and the VAR team at Stockley Park failed to give any decision the way of the visiting team, to the annoyance of the players, fans, and their manager, Eddie Howe.
He said after the game: “I felt the turning point in the game was an obvious one. I can’t understand why the game isn’t stopped [for Liverpool’s first].
“Isaac Hayden is clearly holding his head immediately and is in our six-yard box and of course, that leads to the goal.
“The priority always has to be the safety of the player. We talk a lot at the moment about head injuries and I felt that was a wrong decision and we’ve been harshly treated today.”
And even Gray, who played 363 times for Sunderland, feels things went against his former club’s rivals on Thursday night.
On Ibrahima Konate’s challenge on Joelinton at the end of the first-half, Gray said: “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!”
But it was Trent Alexander-Arnold’s challenge on Ryan Fraser which caused the most controversy, with Dean deciding the Liverpool man got the faintest touch on the ball.
Gray added: “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.”
And after Dean failed to give any decisions Newcastle’s way, he was even involved in Liverpool’s third goal.
Just before Alexander-Arnold fired into the top corner from 30-yards, the referee appeared to make a run past the England international that blocked Jonjo Shelvey and blinded Martin Dubravka.
And Dean Saunders even joked that he got the assist for the full-back’s goal.
He told talkSPORT: “Mike Dean – he might’ve got man of the match for Liverpool!
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD THUNDERBOLT
WHAT A HIT!!! pic.twitter.com/dw8bBPFPmN
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 16, 2021
“What about his run? I’ve never seen a referee make a run like that [across Alexander-Arnold].
“He’s linked up with Jota and Trent. He’s taken two defenders away. Textbook, off the training ground.
“Goalkeeper is unsighted. Then Alexander-Arnold hits it top corner.
“Mike Dean got an assist!”
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