January 1st 2024.
Diogo Jota has come under fire from Premier League legends Alan Shearer and Ian Wright after his controversial penalty incident in Liverpool's win over Newcastle.
The Reds triumphed 4-2 at St James' Park on Monday night, with Mohamed Salah scoring twice and providing an assist in his last performance before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Jota was played through one on one after a sublime through ball from Alexia Mac Allister, and proceeded to round the goalkeeper and take another couple of steps before going down with an open goal in front of him. Replays suggested Jota's ankle was caught by the Newcastle goalkeeper, but his delayed reaction to the contact drew widespread criticism.
Former Arsenal star Wright remarked: ‘Would rather go down for a penalty than put the ball in an empty net! Seen it all!’
Shearer followed up by adding: ‘F*****g embarrassing.’
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was also disappointed with the decision, saying: ‘We were in the game. We had our moments as well in transitions, the spirit was there, the players were committed. There was a lot more to the game. We were up against it with two very soft penalties, the second one wasn’t a penalty at all. That doesn’t help when you come here.’
Asked if he had spoken to his goalkeeper to ask if there was contact, Howe added: ‘I haven’t spoken to him, I have just seen it myself and it looks like Jota takes two steps before he falls down.’
Liverpool's victory saw them move three points clear at the top of the league, while Newcastle have now lost seven of their last eight games, slipping to ninth in the table.
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