Gary Lineker has called for Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope to be allowed to play in the Carabao Cup final. The England international will now serve a one-match suspension after receiving a straight red card in the home defeat to Liverpool on Saturday evening.
Jurgen Klopp's side raced into an early lead at St James' Park, with Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo both netting after just 17 minutes. Mo Salah looked to add a third as he raced on to a long ball from Alisson, and Pope was penalised for the handball after missing the low header.
Referee Anthony Taylor showed the Magpies shot-stopper the red card, which means the summer signing will now miss the Wembley clash with Manchester United next Sunday. Match of the Day host Lineker believes it is an 'anomaly' for Pope to miss the final because of a red card in a different competition, and has pleaded for the 30-year-old to be allowed to serve his suspension in a Premier League fixture instead.
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Lineker told Match of the Day: "The one thing I will say though is he's getting a one-game ban, it's in a competition that's different. He's going to miss the cup final now, that seems disproportionate and wasn't Joelinton on nine yellows? If he'd got another, he would have missed two games but not the Carabao Cup final.
"That's an anomaly, why is that? Come on, let him play in the cup final! He's been brilliant this season.
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