Glenn Murray has praised Diogo Jota for the Liverpool forward’s ‘brilliant skill’ to score against Nottingham Forest. The Portuguese punished the away side’s poor defending.
Liverpool hosted to the City Ground club at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday. Jota (47’, 55’) would put the Reds ahead early into the second period before Neco Williams (51’) responded. The forward would also reply only to see Morgan Gibbs-White (67’) then strike.
Mohamed Salah (70’) continued a crazy quarter of an hour on Merseyside with what would prove to be the winner. The Egyptian built on Jota’s brace to ensure the points remained at Liverpool against Nottingham Forest. But the Reds had to hold on to prevent another reply.
Diogo Jota took advantage of Nottingham Forest’s poor defending
Jota gave Liverpool the perfect start to the second half as Nottingham Forest failed to clear Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner. The City Ground outfit could only clear the ball to Fabinho, who headed it down on a plate for Jota. The 26-year-old could not miss the back of the net.
Williams would reply in style but Nottingham Forest’s joy was short-lived as Jota produced Liverpool’s second. The £45m former Wolves star punished the away side’s woeful attempt at marking to find space inside the box, control the ball and fire it home from 12 yards out.
Andy Robertson chipped an innocuous free-kick into the area but the visitors had entirely switched off. Nottingham Forest left Jota completely unchecked on the edge of the area to bring the ball under his control. He then flashed a shot into the bottom corner on the turn.
BBC pundit Glenn Murray adored the Liverpool star’s ‘brilliant skill’
Two goals against Nottingham Forest marked back-to-back braces for Jota having also fired twice in Liverpool’s 6-1 demolition of Leeds United on Monday night. The 30-cap Portugal star had not scored in the Premier League across his previous 13 appearances this season.
But it was Jota’s ability to score on the turn to restore Liverpool’s lead against Nottingham Forest that astounded Murray. While the attacker’s attentiveness to the visitors switching off also stood out. Thus amid his praise for Jota, Murray has also questioned the defending.
“He’s got brilliant awareness,” Murray stated on the BBC’s Final Score. “But from a Forest point of view, where was the defending? It’s brilliant skill by Jota. But there isn’t a Forest man near him.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
