Diogo Jota might be on top form right now and it could well threaten the first team position of Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino.
Liverpool signed Diogo Jota from Wolves to more or less ‘support’ their star-studded frontline. However, that could all change.
Since coming into the Reds lineup, the Portuguese has shown he can pop up with a goal or two.
The latest indication of the above was a hat-trick from Jota against Atalanta as Liverpool thrashed the Serie A side 5-0 in the Champions League yesterday. A certain Roberto Firmino could only watch from the bench before he came on in the latter stages of the game.
That hat-trick means the new Liverpool signing now has seven goals in a Reds jersey already. Compare that to Firmino who has only one goal in 11 total appearances this season and the message is clear.
In fact, many think Jota should now be a first team name ahead of Firmino given his instant impact and current form. Peter Crouch spoke extensively on this.
Regardless, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says the current situation won’t give him a selection headache.
“Good performances (Jota) never give me a headache,” he said as quoted by Evening Standard. “For tonight the decision it was clear.
“It made sense to use the good shape Diogo is in and because of the way Atalanta plays and defends the skillset of Diogo helps.
“But the world is sometimes a bad place that in a moment when someone is shining we speak immediately about another player – who it feels like played for us 500 games in a row and we wouldn’t be in the Champions League if Bobby Firmino is not with us – and I have to explain why he is not in the team. He will be in the team.
“It is important we have more than 11 and tonight Diogo played a super game and that says nothing about Bobby and nothing to do with causing me headaches.
“I am more than happy the boys played like they played tonight.”
Liverpool take on Manchester City next and Jurgen Klopp will no doubt be left with a difficult decision to make upfront. But judging by his latest comments, Firmino could well be reinstated back in the starting lineup on Sunday.
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