JOHN TERRY SLAMS ‘SHOCKING’ DIOGO JOTA AFTER LIVERPOOL BEAT NEWCASTLE UNITED
At 3-2, and after being put through on goal, Diogo Jota did very well to round the Newcastle United goalkeeper, only to, after a small delay, go to ground after feeling some contact.
Former Chelsea defender John Terry was having none of it and he called it a ‘shocking dive’ on Twitter from the 27-year-old.
The on-field referee, Anthony Taylor, gave the initial call as a penalty, so when VAR checked it, they didn’t overturn it because it wasn’t ‘clear or obvious’.
That just made things worse because, from the naked eye, it was clear that a penalty shouldn’t have been awarded.
If you thought John Terry was unhappy with Diogo Jota’s actions, he thought VAR’s call to actually give the penalty was even worse.
“How on earth is that a penalty?” asked Terry. “Shocking dive! The worst thing is VAR give it?”
Liverpool extend their lead at the top of the table
Jurgen Klopp will be wondering how or why his team didn’t see off a struggling Newcastle side earlier.
The Reds had an incredible 34 shots during the game, 15 of which were on target, with Mohamed Salah, converting his second-half penalty after watching his first being saved.
Despite Newcastle’s struggles, they fought and fought until the end.
And if that penalty at the end wasn’t given, then given the drama of this fixture over the years, anything could have happened.
In the end, Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to three points.
Jurgen Klopp confirms fresh Liverpool injury setback after Newcastle win – ‘other players felt it as well’
Liverpool injury update as Dominik Szoboszlai suffers setback in Newcastle United win.
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Domini Szoboszlai suffered a hamstring injury in Liverpool’s victory over Newcastle United at Anfield.
The Reds ran out 4-2 winners as they began 2024 in fine fashion and moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League. However, Szoboszlai was spotted clutching his leg when substituted in the 64th minute with the game locked at 1-1. The midfielder sustained a hamstring issue that Klopp hopes is not too serious.
Speaking to BBC Sport, the Liverpool manager said: It was a sensational game from my team. We started extremely lively. Everyone saw Dubravka or we ourselves made sure the score didn’t get too clear.
“Super game. I loved so many aspects of the game bar the goals we conceded. Unbelievable game. Unbelievable atmosphere. Counter-pressing wise it was for football schools. They have to watch that, take it and keep it. It was everything good.
“The show must go on. We now have five or six days so three training days. It will change the world from a freshness point of view. Dominik Szoboszlai with a hamstring, we hope not too serious. Other players felt it as well. It’s super intense. But there’s no alternative if you want to win football games.”
LIVERPOOL KEEN ON ‘VERY FAST’ DEFENDER MAN CITY SOLD FOR £4.3M AMID SCHMADTKE CONNECTION
We aren’t expecting to see Liverpool throw money around this month even with a Premier League title challenge on the cards.
Liverpool may look at centre back options though, with Joel Matip now facing a spell on the sidelines.
Jurgen Klopp still has Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah at his disposal, as well as Joe Gomez, who is currently filling in at left back.
The Reds may have targets in mind though and one new name has emerged over the last 24 hours…
Liverpool interested in Borussia Monchengladbach defender Ko Itakura
Fabrizio Romano now reports that Liverpool have been scouting Borussia Monchengladbach defender Ko Itakura on multiple occasions.
Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in Itakura with boss Ange Postecoglou known to be a big fan of the former Manchester City defender.
Postecoglou knows the Japanese market well and wanted to bring Itakura to Celtic during his time in charge of the Bhoys.
Tottenham now seemingly face competition from Liverpool with Itakura on the radar either for this month or in the summer.
Itakura emerged in Japan with Kawasaki Frontale and impressed on loan at Vegalta Sendai in 2018.
The 26-year-old joined City in 2019 but spent his time out on loan at Groningen and Schalke before being sold to Gladbach in 2022.
Gladbach paid just €5million (£4.3million) to sign Itakura and he now appears to be on Liverpool’s radar as they consider handing him a real Premier League chance.
This would again see Liverpool shop in the Bundesliga market having landed Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch over the summer.
Sporting director Jorg Schmadtke knows the Bundesliga market well and he has seen midfielder Endo emerge as a cult hero in-waiting at Anfield.
Itakura is a teammate of Endo with the Japanese national team and they could end up joining forces at Anfield if Schmadtke and Klopp make a move.
We must also point out that Gladbach’s sporting director is Schmadtke’s son Nils, so there is a real connection to Liverpool with Itakura now becoming a target.
Itakura has been hailed as ‘very fast’ by Dutch analyst Hans Kraay Jr and is now a name to keep close tabs on as Liverpool consider January transfers.
Jamie Carragher was shocked by one of Jurgen Klopp’s substitutions for Liverpool last night.
The Reds were electric on Monday, blowing Newcastle United away at Anfield. In the end they scored four, but Liverpool could have had seven or eight.
One of the key men on the night was Luis Diaz. Having had a poor time of it of late, a big performance was needed from the Colombian.
And thankfully against Newcastle, Lucho delivered. Carragher was singing his praises during the game itself and post-match he told Sky Sports that he was disappointed to see Diaz taken off just after the hour.
“I was delighted with Diaz, I couldn’t believe he was brought off I must say that,” said the Liverpool legend.
“I didn’t think the changes helped them initially, they seemed to lose their rhythm.”
Diaz back to his best
With Mohamed Salah set to depart for AFCON, Liverpool really need their forwards to step up over the next month.
And although he didn’t score this evening, Diaz really did that against Newcastle.
Over the past few months, the Colombian has looked a shadow of his former self. Slow and lethargic in his build-up play and ineffective in the final third, it has been a struggle to watch Liverpool’s No.7.
However, tonight’s showing was far more like what we saw during Diaz’s opening year or so at Anfield.
The 26-year-old just seemed to have a little more skip in his step, a little more magic in his boots. It was a really encouraging display which should hopefully see him kick on in the coming weeks.
In terms of the substitutions themselves, Carragher is right, they did appear to knock Liverpool off their stride momentarily.
But after wobbling a little, the Reds soon got back on track. Cody Gakpo scored, while Diogo Jota would have if not for a foul from Martin Dubravka. In the end it worked out.
None of that should take away from the performance of Diaz last night. There were a few contenders on an epic night at Anfield, but we just about made him Liverpool’s Man of the Match.
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