Pundit shares what Michael Edwards told him about Diogo Jota following Liverpool’s win v Bournemouth

Follow us on Google Discover

With Mohamed Salah absent, Liverpool’s forward line, led by Diogo Jota, stepped up and showcased its attacking might against Bournemouth on Sunday.

This was a tricky fixture on paper for Liverpool because these two teams were the in-form sides going into this Premier League clash.

But Jurgen Klopp watched his players, after a goalless first half, put four goals to their name, including Diogo Jota netting a brace and providing an assist.

Tim Sherwood labelled the Portugal international as someone who is ‘turning into the main man’ and how he has been an ‘unbelievable’ signing for the club, as he told Premier League Productions (21/04/24 at 8:40 pm).

He also shared that he spoke to Liverpool’s former transfer guru Michael Edwards about Diogo Jota and how the former Wolves star wasn’t moving to Anfield to play ‘second fiddle’.

In 2020, the Reds paid Wolves £41 million for the versatile forward in a deal that surprised many, at the time. 

But now it’s proving to be a masterstroke, with the player’s mentality playing a huge part in that goalscoring success.

Michael Edwards transfers at Liverpool

“In the absence of Mo Salah, they are all stepping up,” said Sherwood. “Jota has been an unbelievable signing for them.

“I remember speaking to Michael Edwards, who was the sporting director there when he went to speak to Jota to bring him from Wolves.

“He was like saying to Michael ‘I am not playing second fiddle to the three you have got up top’, which we know was Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah, at the time.

“He wanted to score goals and wanted to be the main man. He is certainly turning into that now because he has been outstanding.”

Underrated Diogo Jota

The issue the 27-year-old has had is that injuries have hurt him over the past 18 months and it hasn’t allowed him to progress.

But when he is fit and firing, he is the best and most reliable forward at Anfield after the main man, Salah.

Jota has 11 goals from 22 games in all competitions this season, including seven in the Premier League.

There is no reason why Jota can’t hit 15+ in the Premier League alone this term, which could prove to be critical in the club’s title chances.