After their painful Champions League exit on Tuesday, all of Liverpool’s focus shifted to their Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United over the weekend. However, following their 2-1 defeat in the capital, many fans have expressed their disappointment in two players in particular—Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.
The match saw Dan Burn give Newcastle the lead just before halftime with a powerful header, followed by Alexander Isak doubling the advantage early in the second half. Despite a late goal from Federico Chiesa, which was merely a consolation, Newcastle secured a historic 2-1 victory, ending their 70-year trophy drought.
While Liverpool’s overall performance was underwhelming, Jota and Diaz have come under fire for their lack of impact in the final. Jota, who was deployed as the sole center-forward, struggled throughout his 57-minute appearance. He failed to register a single shot, missed a significant chance, and was unsuccessful with his only dribble attempt. He also won only 40% of his duels and was second-best to most loose balls, touching the ball just 16 times before being substituted for Darwin Nunez.
Meanwhile, Diaz, regarded as one of the Premier League’s top wingers, had a similarly frustrating outing. In his 74 minutes on the pitch, he missed a big chance and was only successful in 33% of his dribbles. He lost possession six times and was eventually replaced by Harvey Elliott with 16 minutes to go.
The duo, who together earn £195,000 per week at Anfield, have received the most criticism from fans, many of whom are questioning their place in the squad. On social media, the consensus is clear—Jota and Diaz are no longer seen as essential to Liverpool’s pursuit of silverware.
One fan bluntly stated: “Diaz and Jota are finished at this club.” Another added: “Anyone else tired of watching Jota and Diaz?”
With the summer transfer window approaching, one supporter suggested it could be the right time for Liverpool to sell the duo, potentially capitalizing on their value after a strong Premier League campaign. “Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota must leave this club in the summer. Both are nowhere near good enough for this level.”
A final fan concluded by criticizing Slot’s decision to play both together, saying, “Bro, when will Slot realize you can’t play Jota and Diaz together?”
