Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon has apologized to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk after a reckless tackle that earned him a red card in their Premier League match on Monday.

Gordon lunged into Van Dijk with a late challenge, leaving a visible scrape on the defender’s right calf and forcing him to the ground. Referee Simon Hooper initially showed a yellow card, but after a VAR review it was upgraded to red.

At the time, Liverpool led 1-0. The visitors went on to win 3-2 after 16-year-old substitute Rio Ngumoha scored in the 100th minute.

On Instagram, Gordon said he was only trying to “create energy” in the game. “I mistimed the tackle,” he wrote. “I also want to apologize to Virgil. I would never intend to tackle somebody like this on purpose. We spoke after and he knows that.”

Van Dijk said he told Gordon during the review that “if that’s not a sending-off, I don’t understand football.” He added: “Unfortunately these things happen. If he meant it or not, it happened. We move on.”

This was Gordon’s second red card in six months. He will now serve a three-match domestic suspension.

Gordon has been playing as Newcastle’s striker in the absence of Alexander Isak, who has expressed a desire to leave the club and has stopped training with the main squad amid reported Liverpool interest. The situation contributed to a tense atmosphere at St. James’ Park during the match.