18 February 2023 , 17:59
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Nick Pope will miss Newcastle United's Carabao Cup final against Manchester United next weekend after receiving a straight red card against Liverpool.
Pope was sent off midway through the first half after flying out of his goal and handballing to stop Mohamed Salah from scoring on the counter-attack. Newcastle were already 2-0 down when Pope came outside his penalty area to try and intercept a long pass from opposite goalkeeper Alisson.
He misjudged the bounce of the ball and ended up grabbing it with his hands to prevent Salah from going around him. Referee Anthony Taylor immediately showed a red card, prompting Eddie Howe to bring on back-up goalkeeper Martin Dubravka for midfielder Elliot Anderson.
Nick Pope grabbed the ball out of desperation (Stu Forster/Getty Images)Newcastle have the best defensive record in the Premier League this season, but endured a nightmare start to the 5.30pm kick-off at St James' Park. Darwin Nunez gave Liverpool the lead when he controlled Trent Alexander-Arnold's defence-splitting pass and rifled past Pope.
It was 2-0 shortly after when Salah dinked a ball over the defence for Cody Gakpo to slide in his second goal for the club. Pope's brain fade then saw things go from bad to worse - and hinder the all-important cup final next weekend.
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Pope will miss the Carabao Cup final because suspensions from the Premier League also count in the competition. Howe faces a serious problem for the final, which will take place at Wembley on February 26, with reserve goalkeeper Dubravka cup-tied.
Nick Pope has been Newcastle's number one goalkeeper all season (OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)Dubravka returned to Newcastle in January after spending the first half of the season on loan with Manchester United, who he played for in the Carabao Cup. That means the Slovakia international is ineligible to play for a different team in the same competition.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karis is therefore in line to start for the Magpies, who are looking to win their first trophy since 1955. Karis signed for the club in September after being released by Liverpool but is yet to make a single first-team appearance for Newcastle.
Pope has started all 23 of Newcastle's Premier League games this season. The 30-year-old has conceded just 15 goals in the league, helping the Magpies reach fourth place in the table.