Former top referee rules on controversial Newcastle United v Liverpool incidents

Dermot Gallagher reviews controversial decisions in the Premier League after each round of games, on behalf of Sky Sports.

The former top referee has now given his call on these incidents in the Newcastle United v Liverpool match.

Dermot Gallagher looking at what happened during key moments in this match at St James’ Park.

United taking the lead twice, only to end up drawing the game.

So what about these ‘controversial’ incidents…

Dermot Gallagher talking to Sky Sports about these Newcastle United v Liverpool controversial incidents:

INCIDENT:

Lewis Hall and Victor Munoz come together, the referee gives a penalty and VAR doesn’t challenge it, allowing Liverpool to score from the spot for a stoppage-time equaliser.

DERMOT GALLAGHER:

“I think it is the right decision. I think it’s clumsy, catches him with his knee and doesn’t get the ball. It’s impactful, it’s contact, and it’s a penalty. I don’t think it’s soft. Hall hit him hard.”

FORMER PLAYER TIM SHERWOOD:

“The ref got it right. He makes contact and it’s never going to get overturned.”

FORMER PLAYER JAY BOTHROYD:

“I don’t think it’s soft. I think it’s a poorly timed challenge.”

I think the problem for most reasonable people, is the lack of consistency. A very similar but far worse challenge by a Villa player on Sunday didn’t see a penalty awarded to Brighton.

Then even worse, remember back to last October and Newcastle denied at least three clear penalties against Chelsea, including a very similar to the Hall on Munoz incident but ten times worse when Gordon was taken out by a Chelsea player.

INCIDENT:

Yoane Wissa, already on a yellow card, trips Ryan Gravenberch in the middle of the park but avoids a second booking.

DERMOT GALLAGHER:

“A second yellow card carries a bit more weight. Would you want me to send you off for that? I don’t think so. It carries more weight because it’s a bigger punishment. It’s not a yellow card in its own right. It’s not enough to send him off.”

JAY BOTHROYD:

“I don’t think that is a red card. Gravenberch does well to go the way that initially Wissa was running but then he goes the other way. At no point do you see Wissa looking forward to, say, let me clip his heels. It’s an accident, not a yellow card and I think it’s a good decision.”

TIM SHERWOOD:

“It’s a second yellow; it’s a red card in my opinion.”

Newcastle 2 Liverpool 2 – Sunday 23 August 2026 4.30pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Elanga 5, Willock 57

Liverpool:

Gakpo 55, Szoboszlai 90+9 pen

Possession was Newcastle 39% Liverpool 61%

Total shots were Newcastle 13 Liverpool 27

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Liverpool 7

Corners were Newcastle 2 Liverpool 6

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 16 Liverpool 36

Newcastle United team v Liverpool:

Hornicek, Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Lewis Miley (Bamba 76), Steur (Ramsey 56), Elanga (Murphy 76), Barnes, Osula (Willock 56), Wissa (Schar 95)

Subs:

Jaouen, Toure, Woltemade, Shahar

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