Last night, Jürgen Klopp avoided an early scare against Rangers in the Champions League as Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino ran riot for Liverpool.
Goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott as well saw the Reds record a 7-1 win at Ibrox, on a night where Firmino in particular showed his class with two well taken strikes.
However, the Brazil international sees his contract expire in July, and there is yet to be any progress over a renewal.
If Klopp does lose his No.9 in 2023, we feel the German already has a perfect alternative right under his nose.
Diogo Jota can replace Roberto Firmino at Liverpool
Now, when the Portugal international arrived from Wolves in a £41m deal back in 2020, he was seen as more of a poacher who would finish moves off, rather than someone known for providing the killer pass.
However, Jota has significantly improved the creative side of his game under Klopp, and that was particularly evident after he came off the bench in the 72nd minute.
Remarkably, the Liverpool No.20 provided four key passes in just 18 minutes on the pitch, with three of those turning into assists for Salah’s phenomenal hat-trick.
Jota now has five assists in seven appearances so far this season, having registered four in his last nine Premier League outings in the previous campaign.
Firmino has made a name for himself at Anfield by being a finisher as well as a creator, and it seems Jota is now starting to follow in the Brazilian’s footsteps in regards to the latter trait.
Liverpool must utilise Diogo Jota
The 25-year-old, six years younger than Firmino, is a hugely talented player, and Klopp must find a way to use him effectively alongside Nunez and Salah if his No.9 does leave Anfield in July.
In our view, Jota has now proven that he can be used as a false nine as his creative output increases, so a system with Salah and Nunez ahead of him in outright striker roles could prove fruitful for Liverpool.
Whatever happens to Firmino in 2023, Klopp has plenty of attacking talent to work with – he just needs to find a system to ensure it clicks like it did at Ibrox more often.
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