Current Premier League champions Liverpool have returned to the table’s summit this weekend, after a tight win over West Ham United (BBC Match Report).

The Reds have still to find that superior consistency that helped them run towards their first league title in thirty years during the last campaign.

Yet one thing we know is that Jurgen Klopp has once again been astute in the transfer market with forward Diogo Jota seamlessly coming into the squad and shining in a Reds jersey.

The Portuguese winger has bagged himself four goals in his first nine appearances (four starts) for his new club.

It’s never easy for a player to adjust themselves to new surroundings and you can imagine that’s particularly true for any attacker trying to get game time at Anfield when he is up against the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

While Jota hasn’t been an instant starter for Klopp’s side he has shown when called upon that he can be another dangerous outlet, no matter which wing he’s flying down!

Diogo climbed off the bench yesterday to nab a late winner over the Hammers. It was the twenty-three year old’s third winning strike in as many games.

You could tell last term that Liverpool didn’t have that exciting creative talent that could come in and challenge the front three, especially in the wider positions. Injuries ruined Xherdan Shaqiri’s season last year and Takumi Minamino hasn’t quite settled into life at Liverpool just yet, plus I’d say those two players offer more from deeper positions.

Diogo Jota has clearly benefited from coming to Anfield having already established himself in the English top flight at Wolves. He scored sixteen times in the league during his two years at Molineux. Last term he also showed his worth in Europe with his six Europa League goals.

Jota’s goal against West Ham showed he remains calm in pressured situations. Shaqiri’s lovely through ball set the forward up in a one on one situation with the opposition goalkeeper, which saw Diogo side foot the ball first time into the net.

After yesterday’s win, Reds boss Klopp stated just how impressed he’s been with his new signing:

“He’s an exceptional talent.”

“He has the speed, physicality, technique, he’s both-footed… He’s much better than I thought he would be and that’s really impressive.”

Jurgen Klopp Via The Express

With all that being said, I am sure there is one stat that Klopp and Liverpool fans will be hoping to see Jota improve upon before too long and that’s his assists.

The Portuguese international only created one league assist in over thirty games for Wolverhampton Wanderers last season. He’s still to get one for Liverpool in this campaign but that will have to change because the likes of Firmino, Salah and Mane will demand it!

Diogo has the pace to beat players and the ability to find space and vision to create good chances for his teammates. Klopp will hope he can start to add more of that to his game sooner rather than later. It could be the thing that makes him a starter at Anfield.

Diogo Jota has already shown Reds fans that he can be another difference maker in the final third, which is something the league champions have been missing in the last few years.

Liverpool have added to their exciting squad with yet another top player and that’s why they’ll be up there challenging again for all the top silverware come the season’s end.

They say winning sides don’t stand still and with the Diogo Jota signing, Liverpool haven’t let the grass grow under their feet after last season’s triumph!

Posted on November 1st, 2020 by scott
Filed under: Article