Diogo Jota was called “f***ing embarrassing” by Newcastle icon Alan Shearer after the forward for Liverpool went down with little touch to win a penalty in the Reds’ 4-2 victory.
Sven Botman headed Newcastle back into the game from a corner, cutting Liverpool’s lead to 3-2 after they had dominated the game at Anfield.
After Jota rounded Martin Dubravka and was sent clean through on goal, the Reds had an opportunity to complete the victory.
Jota appeared poised to roll the ball into the empty net, but went down after minimal contact from the Newcastle goalkeeper.
Former Arsenal forward and pundit Ian Wright questioned Jota on X, formerly Twitter.
Diogo Jota was left with an open goal after rounding Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka
Liverpool were awarded a penalty as Jota went down under minimal contact from Dubravka
‘Would rather go down for a penalty than put the ball in an empty net! Seen it all,’ Wright wrote.
His comment prompted a response from Shearer, with the former Newcastle striker labelling the forward as ‘f***ing embarrassing’.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher added that he ‘couldn’t fathom’ why a forward would go down when presented with an empty net.
‘He doesn’t need to go down. Just carry on,’ Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
‘There’s the slightest touch but it doesn’t knock him off. It’s there just to be put in with your left foot.
‘He’s gone down far too easily. Is there contact? I don’t think there’s much contact really.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said he ‘couldn’t fathom’ why Jota would go down
When there is an open net to place the ball in, I don’t think a player would fall, even with the smallest contact.
“I find it incomprehensible.”
After missing a penalty kick in the first half, Mo Salah scored his second of the game from the following penalty kick.
In the 4-2 victory against Newcastle, the hosts also scored goals from Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool now leads the standings by three points as a result of the victory.