Stephen Warnock has changed his mind about Roberto Firmino starting for Liverpool against Manchester City at weekend after initially claiming that he ‘will play’, as he told Football Daily.
The BBC pundit made his initial comments before Diogo Jota struck a hat-trick in the Champions League and he now thinks the summer signing has ‘made his [Klopp’s ] mind up’ about starting him.
On paper this season, Jota plays ahead of the Brazil international without any hesitation, but will Klopp want to remain loyal with a player that has served him well over the years?
Nonetheless, after initially saying that Firmino would start, Warnock was then asked his opinion on the weekend game after the hat-trick was scored.
“I didn’t know he was going to score a hat-trick,” said Warnock. “I think it has [changed quite a lot]. I think it’s changed so much because it wasn’t just the goals.
“It was the all-round performance and the link-up between the three players. That will be pleasing to Jurgen Klopp as anything. He’ll look at the game at the weekend. You have got to remember, you are away from home. It’s almost a counter-attacking game for Liverpool. They need that speed up front and Jota brings that.
“Big decision from Jurgen Klopp, but I think Jota has made his mind up [with that hat-trick].”
There’s no doubt that Firmino is just going through a bad spell, and given what he has done for the club, he still needs to be respected.
But the Reds have been crying out for someone to challenge the forward line and Jota is doing it in a quite spectacular fashion.
The thing with Jota is that every time he picks up that ball in the final third, it looks like he is going to score.
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