Diogo Jota marked his return to Liverpool colours by scoring from the bench during his side’s 2-0 win over Burnley on Boxing Day.
In recent years, the 27-year-old has been hit with a spate of injuries that just haven’t allowed him to showcase his true worth to Liverpool fans.
But Paul Scholes thinks Diogo Jota is a ‘very important’ player for Jurgen Klopp and someone who can provide the goalscoring goods alongside, Mohamed Salah, as he told Premier League Productions (26/12/23 at 7:35 pm).
Whilst the Manchester United legend questions the goalscoring qualities of Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez.
Diogo Jota’s record in Liverpool colours is there for all to see, it’s just the treatment room that has stood in his way of really exploding.
Since moving to Anfield from Wolves in a £41 million deal in 2020, he has scored 50 goals in 131 games in all competitions.
That’s pretty good going for a player who hasn’t started regularly, as well as playing second fiddle to the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
But Paul Scholes certainly appreciates the player and he spoke about him in glowing terms.
Diogo Jota’s importance to Liverpool
“He is (important),” said Scholes. “He chips in with a lot of goals and a lot of very important goals. It’s good coming on for the last 5-10 minutes for a cameo appearance.
“It’s a good goal (against Burnley). It’s not one he meant, but just hit it hard and low as you can, then hope it goes in.
“But he is a very important player for Liverpool. Not all of their front three chip in a lot. But he seems to be the one from Salah who does.”
Diogo Jota – the best after Mohamed Salah?
There is no doubt that Salah is Liverpool’s undisputed number one and that will remain the case until he leaves.
But you need that quality behind your main man, in case he is injured, needs a breather or in the upcoming case, is off to Africa Cup of Nations duty in January.
This is where Jota’s return from injury has come at the right time because whilst Salah is doing his stuff for Egypt.
You could argue that the Portuguese star will become Liverpool’s most reliable goalscorer.
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