Michael Owen has claimed that Diogo Jota has been the ‘fall guy’ at Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp now needs to hand him more starts, as he told Premier League Productions (09/10/22 at 4:10 pm)
The former Red thinks Jota has been ‘unlucky’ in Liverpool colours after his strong start to life on Merseyside when he first joined the club for £41 million in 2020 (BBC Sport).
The 25-year-old has started back-to-back games for Liverpool, including during their defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.
The versatile forward continued his strong run of performances at the Emirates by supplying an assist during the game, but it wasn’t enough for his struggling side.
It needs to be remembered that Jota has been injured from the start of the campaign, hence why he didn’t start a game until they played Ajax last month.
But now that his engine is getting warmed, Owen wants him in the starting XI on a regular basis, as he shared some interesting comments on the player.
“A lot of people feel he has been unlucky not to have played as much as he possibly could have,” said Owen.
“He hit the ground running at Liverpool because they have so many talented players up in those positions.
“He has been the fall guy a lot of the time. It’s about time that Klopp have him more opportunities now he’s back to fitness.”
DIAZ’S INJURY OPENS THE DOOR FOR JOTA
Luis Diaz has been one of the very few pluses for Liverpool this season, but he is seemingly now going to be on the sidelines until the end of the year.
Following Liverpool’s defeat to Arsenal, where he went off injured, the all-action forward left the Emirates on crutches.
Whilst it’s a crying shame that he will be out of action, it possibly opens the door for Jota now to keep his place in the XI on a regular basis.
If Darwin Nunez plays up front, Mo Salah on the right, and Roberto Firmino in behind the summer signing, then Jota could possibly take his place out on the left.
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