Former footballer turned pundit Jamie Carragher has criticized Everton for a social media post that appeared to harshly mock former player Anthony Gordon following his missed penalty during the club’s goalless draw with Newcastle United.
During Saturday’s game at Goodison Park, Gordon, 23, missed a crucial opportunity to secure a win for Newcastle.
With the match tied at 0-0, his first-half penalty was saved by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who is also his compatriot.
Gordon had left Everton in January 2023 after 11 years at the club, moving to Newcastle United in a contentious £45 million transfer.
His departure followed a period of tension in which he refused to train and submitted a transfer request.
Despite the acrimonious exit, his contributions to Everton had been significant during his 78 appearances.
Carragher Criticizes Everton Over Social Media Mockery
After the draw, Everton’s social media team posted a video of Gordon’s saved penalty accompanied by a buzzer sound, familiar from the 90s quiz show Family Fortunes.
The sound is typically used during the club’s halftime ‘Hit the Bar’ challenge when fans fail to score, but in this instance, it was used to mock Gordon’s penalty miss.
Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool defender, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the post.
He called it unprofessional, especially given Gordon’s history with Everton.
Carragher highlighted the winger’s loyalty to the club, having been a key player during his time there, despite the challenges the club faced, particularly in the 2021/22 season.
Gordon had joined Everton’s academy after being released by Liverpool in 2021.
Despite the club’s struggles, he stood out in the 2021/22 season under then-manager Frank Lampard, playing a key role in helping Everton avoid relegation.
Newcastle Manager Eddie Howe Defends Gordon
Despite Gordon’s penalty miss, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe praised his player, who was one of the fastest Premier League players last season.
Howe noted that while Gordon was naturally disappointed by the miss, his overall performance showed significant improvement compared to his last visit to Goodison Park.
Howe emphasized that Gordon had grown as a player, particularly due to his international experience with England, and downplayed the significance of the missed penalty, saying spot kicks often come down to luck.
He reiterated his support for Gordon, maintaining confidence in his abilities even after the miss against his former team.
This incident has sparked conversations about professionalism in football, with Carragher’s comments underscoring the importance of respecting former players, regardless of how their departures unfold.
