Pundit can’t believe Nick Pope as Sky’s Liverpool footage emerges – ‘I saw it coming from a mile away’
Alan Hutton feels for Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope after he was sent off against Liverpool on Saturday (18 February).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Tottenham and Aston Villa defender said that although the red card was warranted, it’s “a real shame” Pope will miss the League Cup final.
As shown on Sky Sports (20 February), Reds goalkeeper Alisson Becker booted the ball up the pitch to try and launch a counter-attack for his team.
Pope came out of his area to meet an onrushing Mohamed Salah and after falling onto the ball, instinctively reached out to pick it up.
Referee Anthony Taylor immediately branded a red card and VAR had no complaints with the decision.
As a result of the sending off, Pope will miss the Magpies’ Carabao Cup final match against Man United on Sunday (26 February).
Hutton feels for the England international who will miss Newcastle’s first cup final in 24 years.
“He wasn’t thinking but I saw it coming from a mile away,” he told Football Insider.
“Alisson has kicked it long and I knew what was happening. Salah was going to get there. As soon as it bounces I was thinking why does he not just kick it.
“If he got a foot on that I do not think it is a problem.
“But it is a real shame because yes he has made an error, Salah was probably going to score if he had got the ball, but the bigger picture is he misses the final now and it is a real shame because he has been an outstanding player.
“But it was just one of those moments that did not go right for him.“
In other news, according to sources, Newcastle in three-club race to sign James Maddison as summer price revealed.