Kop star Jota: I’m no fall guy... I’d always want to score than see Salah take a penalty, especially as we’re back in the trophy hunt
LIVERPOOL striker Diogo Jota has hit back at the critics who called him a cheat.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer was one of a number of former players who claimed Jota dived to win the late penalty that enabled Mo Salah to seal a 4-2 win over Toon on New Year’s Day.
Many questioned why Jota did not take the chance to score himself – even though Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka admitted he did make contact with the Portugal striker.
Now Jota has answered his accusers.
“Listen, of course, I saw some comments from ex-players and people who are paid to talk about situations,” he said.
“The only thing I can say is even the keeper said it was a touch – and that I didn’t feel the conditions to stay up. So that’s it.
“I’d rather score a goal. That’s what I like to do – score goals. That’s all I have to say.”
Jota returned to action over the festive period after being sidelined for a month by a muscle injury.
He admitted that Liverpool’s brief winter break – Jurgen Klopp took his squad to train in Dubai – could not have come at a worse time for him.
But Jota warned that the tabletopping Reds are raring to go again after laying down a marker in their quest for a Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Europa League quadruple.
He was part of the squad that went agonisingly close to winning the title and Champions League two seasons ago after landing a domestic cup double.
He said: “It’s a lot of games and a lot of hard competitions. But we want it to be like two years ago and not like last year when we didn’t perform the way we wanted to.
“It’s exciting times. We are all looking forward to the second half of the season. We made a few new signings and had a fresh start this season. Last year wasn’t normal for Liverpool.
“This season it’s a lot better. We have a refreshed midfield that impacts a lot in the game.
“We are just having fun playing together. We are still adapting to each other and we will be even stronger, hopefully, in the second half of the season.
“I feel refreshed. It’s always nice to have a few days away, especially at this time of year when it’s very cold here!
“For me specifically, I don’t think the break necessarily came at the right time because I was injured during December. But, for the team in general, it is a necessary break because of all the games we have been playing.
“We’ve basically been playing every three days, which is a lot of games with a lot of intensity in those games. The human body needs this time to recover and then we go again.
“We know how it works – and