Diogo Jota attracted his fair share of admirers, including James Pearce, with a remarkable display at Anfield to help Liverpool secure their first win of the season in the Champions League group stage.
The Portuguese star did not get on the scoresheet but played a crucial role in Mo Salah’s opening goal, providing the assist as the Reds got off to a rare positive start to a game.
“Diogo Jota performed like a man with a point to prove, and it’s understandable,” the reporter wrote for The Athletic.
“The Portuguese international wasn’t there yet when Joel Matip lifted the gloom hanging over Liverpool’s young season with an 89th-minute header that sent Anfield into ecstasy.
“But Jota had already made his mark against Ajax.
“With Jurgen Klopp starting for the first time this season, he set the tone for a much-improved performance in their second Champions League group stage match, which was the antithesis of last week’s lousy capitulation to the Naples in the first.
“’Much more intensity, much more aggressiveness, braver, smarter, everything was better,’ says Klopp.
“And all of that came from Jota and the dynamism and energy that he brought as the focal point of the attack.”
The Merseysiders’ latest win saw them make up for the ‘horror show’, as Jurgen Klopp put it, of a visit to Napoli last week.
READ MORE: Liverpool line up January move for Brazilian sensation to bolster midfield – Julio Miguel Neto
It has to be said that the 2-1 win over Alfred Schreuder was far from a perfect performance by the German men, as shortcomings in midfield were sometimes exposed and we lacked the kind of protection that Jordan Henderson excels at providing for. the right. outflanking to offset Trent Alexander-Arnold’s distance runs.
That said, it was still the closest fans saw Liverpool to having every department running as one could hope.
At the moment, it seems that both Jota and, in particular, Thiago Alcantara could be particularly integral in ensuring that the forward line and midfield stand out after the international break.
EOTK Insider Opinion: 70% of Liverpool fans suspect he’s had a falling out with Liverpool, but… What’s going on with Naby Keita?
