Jamie Carragher has criticised Everton for appearing to mock former player Anthony Gordon following the club’s goalless draw with Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The incident stemmed from Gordon’s missed penalty in the first half, which was saved by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, denying the Magpies a crucial opportunity to secure all three points.
Gordon, now 23, returned to his former club for the third time since his £45 million move to Newcastle in January 2023.
He had risen through Everton’s youth ranks after joining at 11 years old, having been released by Liverpool.
The winger made 78 appearances for the Toffees and was instrumental in helping the club avoid relegation during the 2021-22 season.
However, Gordon’s departure from Everton was marked by controversy. In January 2023, after submitting a transfer request, it was reported that he failed to attend training as he forced through his move to Newcastle.
The manner of his exit left a bitter taste among many Everton fans, making his return to Goodison Park particularly charged.
After Gordon’s penalty was saved by Pickford, Everton’s official X account, formerly Twitter, posted a video clip of the miss with added sound effects, seemingly mocking the Newcastle winger.
The post came in response to a fan’s request to show the miss with the famous buzzer sound from the 90s quiz show Family Fortunes, often used to signify failure in the half-time ‘Hit the Bar’ challenge.
Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool defender, was quick to condemn Everton’s actions. He tweeted:
“Local lad who came through your academy… Helped keep you up under [Frank] Lampard, wanted out because the club was a shambles on & off the pitch & who you then sold for 40m. The Peoples club!”
Carragher’s comments were a clear dig at Everton’s social media post and a reminder of Gordon’s service to the club.
Carragher wasn’t the only prominent figure to criticise the club. Dan Donachie, Everton’s former medical director, also expressed his displeasure. Taking to X, he wrote:
“Classy @Everton post this about a young man who spent around 10 years of his life with the club. No wonder. Disgraceful.”
Donachie’s response highlighted how Gordon’s long association with Everton made the post seem particularly inappropriate.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, meanwhile, was full of praise for Gordon, focusing on how the young winger handled the pressure of returning to Goodison and the disappointment of the penalty miss.
“Naturally he will be disappointed, but [that was] a much better performance from him than here last year. I thought he dealt with the occasion well,” Howe said.
Howe also spoke of Gordon’s mental resilience, noting how easily such moments can affect a player’s performance.
“Anybody can miss a penalty. We absolutely support him and he’s been incredible for us, and tactically he gave them a problem.”
Gordon had faced similar challenges in the past, but his response this time was markedly improved, with his manager backing him to learn from the experience.
Despite the missed penalty and the fallout that followed, Gordon continues to be a key player for Newcastle, with Howe confident that the winger’s quality will shine through in future performances.