‘I don’t like’: Klopp fumes over what he’s hearing about £45m Liverpool star

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Jurgen Klopp has acknowledged Luis Diaz’s game-changing cameo for Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday night, but refused to accept that Diogo Jota was the ‘problem’.

Liverpool beat Villarreal 3-2 in Spain and 5-2 on aggregate to reach the final of the competition, in Paris on May 28.

The Reds were trailing 2-0 at the break following a woeful first-half performance from Klopp’s side, typified by an ineffective Jota up front.

According to WhoScored, the Portuguese striker only managed a paltry 13 touches throughout the opening 45 minutes, highlighting his struggle against Unai Emery’s troops.

From the second Diaz came on, Liverpool looked a thousand times better and the Colombia international – who scored one of his club’s three goals – is credited with tipping the tie back in the Premier League side’s favour.

And although Klopp has lauded the former Porto winger, the German manager doesn’t like suggestions that Jota was somehow holding back the Merseysiders at El Madrigal.

He told Liverpool’s official website: “He had a massive impact. But what I don’t like about this is the next story is around that Diogo Jota was our problem: he was not at all our problem, we just had to mix it up.”

Problem?

You’d have a hard time convincing anyone that Jota is a problem for Liverpool.

Ever since his £45 million transfer to Anfield, the 25-year-old has been exceptional and his 21 goals across all competitions this season highlights his importance.

However, it’s clear that tactically, Klopp didn’t get it right originally against Emery.

Thirteen touches speaks volumes for Jota’s lack of effectiveness on Tuesday night and although Liverpool might’ve clawed their way back into the game with the Portuguese attacker eventually, it wasn’t working for the opening 45 minutes.

Thierry Henry said midway through the game, speaking to CBS Sport, that Klopp shouldn’t have started Jota, arguing Diaz was always a better option and, on the evidence of what happened after the substitution, he certainly has a strong point.