Anthony Gordon’s blockbuster move to Liverpool has collapsed, and it’s just as well considering the clashes he’s had with Reds legends in the past.
The Newcastle winger, 23, had been heavily linked with a move to Anfield this summer, with the Magpies under pressure to sell players in order to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR).
Newcastle and Liverpool were locked in talks over a deal, which included Jarell Quansah moving the other way, but with the Reds reluctant to let the defender leave, negotiations broke down.
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There is, however, still thought to be slim chances of talks being revived as Liverpool continue to look to strengthen their options out wide ahead of next season.
Despite his Everton history, Gordon was understood to have been open to the switch, though would have had to build some bridges with several former Liverpool stars if the deal was completed.
Jamie Carragher, Ian Rush and Danny Murphy have all called Gordon out for diving in the past, and the England forward bit back at them in a fiery interview back in 2022.
“People have been calling me a diver of late, I’m not sure why,” Gordon said. “If you look back at the games, I’m getting kicked quite a lot. I’ll take it as a compliment because I must be doing something well.
“I know what I bring to the table. I know I’m not a diver, videos prove that. I might go down every now and then but that’s because I’m getting kicked. I don’t know what people want me to do. I’m just going to do my best and keep getting at people.
“It happens to really good one-v-one players. If someone is good one-v-one they are going to get past a lot of players and hacked down every now and then. I’m not sure the reasons why we get called divers.”
A few weeks earlier, Carragher claimed simulation had “crept” into Gordon’s game, while Rush accused the former Toffees star of being “one of the worst offenders” in the division after getting booked for diving in a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
The day after that game, Murphy said on talkSPORT: “Anthony Gordon is diving too much… he’s a great player, I really like him, but he does dive a lot!”
Gordon has made just one substitute appearance at the Euros this summer, entering the fray on 89 minutes during England’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia. He nonetheless made a positive impact and played a part in what was arguably his side’s best chance of the game after picking out Kobbie Mainoo with an incisive pass.
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Despite being critical of his on-field antics, Carragher clearly likes Gordon and urged England boss Gareth Southgate to use him more during the Euros. The former defender also insisted Gordon’s pace and direct running would bring the best out of Harry Kane, who has been uncharacteristically ineffective thus far.
“You’ve got to play to Harry Kane’s strengths,” Carragher told Sky Sports. “Kane likes to drop between the lines and come to receive the ball, because he hasn’t got the pace to run in behind… for me he needs pace around him and players to run in behind him.
“I think Saka on one side and Gordon on the other would provide that penetration… and that helps Kane.”