Kieran Trippier and Newcastle United’s players came under fire after appearing to leave a mascot by herself ahead of the Premier League game against Liverpool at Anfield
12:46, 02 Feb 2026Updated 12:47, 02 Feb 2026
A Newcastle United mascot is left by herself ahead of the game against Liverpool
Newcastle United club chiefs are to reach out to the family of a young mascot and put things right after she was left by herself ahead of the defeat to Liverpool. Anthony Gordon might have opened the scoring at Anfield on Saturday night, but his side were still beaten 4-1.
However, following the game, a video emerged online showing Newcastle’s mascot for the game, a young girl, left alone and looking confused in the centre of the pitch after Howe’s side all raced away to prepare for the game following the pre-game handshake. The camera then panned to the opposite side of the pitch, where Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk was passing a ball to his side’s three young mascots.
Although Dan Burn was named on the teamsheet as Newcastle captain for the game in the absence of Bruno Guimaraes, Howe’s side were led out at Anfield by Kieran Trippier, who was holding the hand of the young mascot as they both made their way onto the pitch.
Tippier has come under fire since the video emerged on social media. Taking to X, one fan said: “Disappointing ??? That’s an understatement !!! This poor girl will be devastated !!! Trippier had one job, to walk out with the mascot and then make sure she got back off the pitch safely. I hope the club do more than just reach out.”
While another added: “So bad. Why Trippier completely neglected her after the handshakes is unfathomable. My son was a mascot last night. We can see from this video that Trippier was looking after her then just simply left her …”
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And now The Telegraph is reporting that Newcastle will not only reach out to the family of the mascot, but club chiefs have also pledged to look into what happened and to put things right for the young supporter. The report also claims that after the clip ends, the young girl was taken over to the Newcastle bench, where she shook hands with manager Eddie Howe.
Responding to the incident, the Newcastle United Supporters Trust said in a statement released on Monday morning: “We spoke to the club about this yesterday – they are aware and it is being addressed and action being taken.”
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Despite taking the lead through Gordon, Hugo Ekitike scored twice in two minutes for Liverpool as he turned the game on its head heading into the break. Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate then wrapped up the victory for Arne Slot’s side in the second-half.
“We are really disappointed because I thought it was a strong performance – 4-1 is really hard on us,” Howe said afterwards. “We scored a great goal, started really strongly and we were a strong counter-attack threat.
“It is just the manner of the goals conceded were really poor from our perspective. I would not expect us normally to concede those types of goal.
Kieran Trippier and his Newcastle side endured a night to forget against Liverpool at Anfield(Image: Stu Forster)
“You’ve got to give Hugo Ekikike a lot of credit, especially the second goal. I thought it was an unbelievable run and finish, but I don’t think we cover ourselves in glory on the small details.
“We switch off for a few seconds on a goal kick and you kick yourselves afterward because they are key moments in the game.”
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