‘World Class’ Diogo Jota Steps Up For Liverpool

With world-class forwards Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Diogo Jota has stepped up to be the star player in attack for Liverpool.

His standout performance this month came in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal against Arsenal when he scored both goals to see Liverpool through to the final.

Though this game was the only time he’s found the net during this period, good performances in Premier League wins against Crystal Palace and Brentford have helped Liverpool just about stay in touch with Manchester City at the top of the table.

Jurgen Klopp has had to use all of his squad in the early part of 2022 as his side began their participation in the FA Cup as well as competing in the league and progressing to the aforementioned Carabao Cup final.

The Liverpool manager has introduced youth prospects as well as giving fringe players the opportunity to step up, and though there have been admirable performances from a number of players, the obvious star of the show in attack is Jota.

And Klopp believes the Portuguese is now on the same level as Mane and Salah.

“We scored two wonderful goals—Diogo Jota was on fire,” Klopp said after the 2-0 win at Arsenal. 

“We were completely convinced when he arrived at the club he would help us massively. Since he’s been here he has made another step. He has turned into a really world-class striker.

“Mentality mixed with quality is the reason we signed him. Of course, he scored two goals, he is incredibly important to us, so it is that mix of his skills that is really exciting. 

“He is in good shape as well and long may it continue.”

The mention of mentality gives an insight into Liverpool’s scouting process. 

They don’t just look for good players, they look for people with the character to improve the squad and have the right attitude to the game and to the day-to-day work, whether that be on the training ground, in the media, in the community, or behind the scenes.

Jota already had Premier League experience when he arrived at Liverpool having spent two seasons in the league with Wolves following a first season on loan helping them secure promotion from the Championship.

He settled in quicker than many other new signings have at Liverpool under Klopp, adapting well to the counter-pressing in defence as well as slotting into the three out wide or through the middle.

He scored five goals in his first eight league games and helped the club begin the defence of their 2020 Premier League title in an impressive fashion.

Then came a knee injury that kept him out for around three months, and during that time Liverpool’s title defence fell apart. 

As well as missing Jota, they were without all of their first-team centre-backs through injury and dropped as low as eighth in March.

Liverpool lost nine games during that season, but only lost two in which Jota started. Though their defensive injury crisis will go down as the main reason they failed to challenge for the title in the 2020/21 campaign, the absence of Jota was also a key reason.

Their best runs of form in the league came at the very start and the very end of that season—when Jota was available. He scored nine league goals during his debut year for Liverpool despite only starting 12 games.

Still only 25-years-old, he is part of the future for Liverpool as much as he is in the present. Salah and Mane are both 29 years old and there will come a time when the club will have to replace them permanently.

Jota has shown this month that he’s ready to step in as part of the next wave of world-class forwards to lead the line for Liverpool.

Luis Diaz, the Colombian winger who looks likely to sign from Porto at the end of the January transfer window, will join Jota in attempting to future-proof the side.

Diaz is also 25, and in terms of the closeness of their ages Jota and Diaz are the new Salah and Mane.

Liverpool will hope there will be many more similarities on show in the years to come, and Jota has already shown he can reach the highest level.