Fans Left Fuming at Referee During Newcastle vs Liverpool Clash
Heading into Newcastle’s meeting with Liverpool on Monday night, much of the focus was on Alexander Isak’s ongoing transfer saga. The Swedish striker, absent once again amid Liverpool’s pursuit, has been the subject of bids worth over £110m, though Newcastle continue to insist on a fee closer to £150m.
Speaking on Sky Sports before kick-off, Thierry Henry weighed in on the situation, urging Isak to apologise if he hopes to repair relations with the Magpies:
“The best thing for him and for Newcastle is if he goes,” Henry said. “But if he apologises and gets back to scoring like last year, fans will forgive him.”
Another subplot surrounded Hugo Ekitike — once a Newcastle target, now a Liverpool signing — but as the game unfolded, both narratives were overshadowed by growing fan frustration with referee Simon Hooper.
Social media lit up with criticism, with many accusing Hooper of “ruining the game” by blowing for too many fouls and disrupting the flow of an intense encounter at St James’ Park.
One fan posted: “The referee is ruining this game. Game of the week and he’s stopping it every chance he can get. PGMOL need to be pulled up for this.”
Another added: “Worst referee ever to be put on a game like this.”
The flashpoint came just before half-time when Anthony Gordon’s late challenge on Virgil van Dijk was initially punished with a yellow card. After VAR intervention, Hooper upgraded it to a red, reducing Newcastle to ten men and sparking further debate.
While Liverpool led at the break thanks to Ryan Gravenberch’s stunning opener, much of the post-match chatter revolved around the officiating — with fans united in their belief that Hooper’s handling of the game overshadowed the football itself.
