Explanation provided after Liverpool given penalty for ‘blatant dive’ by Diogo Jota

Liverpool were awarded a controversial penalty at the death against Newcastle.

At the close of Liverpool’s Premier League encounter against Newcastle, Diogo Jota, who was clean through on goal, skipped past Martin Dubravka, took a couple of strides and then went down in the box, seemingly unimpeded.

A penalty was given with VAR replays showing that the keeper brushed Jota’s leg seconds before the Liverpool forward went down.

Mohamed Salah went on to score the subsequent penalty, completing a 4-2 victory for Liverpool and extending the club's lead at the Premier League summit to three points.

Gary Neville, on commentary, said: "Oh no. You can't give a penalty for that.

"He goes forward and then goes forward and then goes down. The delay is too great. It's two or three yards after the contact."

Neville later added: "The Liverpool fans have been booing referee Taylor but he has done them a favour there. I don't think that was a penalty."

Fans on X were also stunned. One person said: "That’s absolutely outrageous from Diogo Jota!!" while another wrote: "Absolutely embarrassing from Diogo Jota. Everything wrong with modern football."

A third added: "Astounding VAR can’t determine that’s a dive from Diogo Jota. He looked embarrassed himself."

A fourth said: "That's disgusting from Diogo Jota. Blatant dive."

However, in Sky Sports commentary former referee Mike Dean explained while he didn't feel comfortable with the penalty being awarded, it was difficult for VAR to overturn the decision given there was contact.

Despite the controversy, Liverpool's comprehensive win was deserved. Jurgen Klopp's side posted 34 shots and had 7.27 of expected goals - the most created by one side in a Premier League game since Opta started recording the data in 2010.