Sadio Mane has been speaking to CBS Sports amid an impressive run of form for Liverpool, and he reserved special praise for Diogo Jota.
What’s the story?
Well, Mane decided to shower Jota in praise, after the 24-year-old’s excellent start to the season for Liverpool.
The 21-cap Portugal international has netted five goals in 13 games this season, and looks set to beat his tally of 13 from last term.
Mane has certainly been left impressed, if his comments to CBS Sports are anything to go by.
The Liverpool No.10 said: “We have known each other for a couple of years now and we also know what each player is capable of and enjoy it to the fullest. After Diogo joined us, he adapted our play as if he would have never been anywhere else. (His arrival was a) great win for the team.”
There’s no doubt about it, Jota was a superb signing by Jürgen Klopp and Michael Edwards.
The Reds paid £41m to take him from Wolves, and he has been worth every penny so far as he provides invaluable competition for Roberto Firmino.
The £90,385-a-week man’s role is a vital one, as Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino often prove to be ineffective when stepping in to deputise.
Forget Diogo Jota, Liverpool did better business last summer
One month before Jota arrived at Anfield in September 2020, Liverpool completed the signing of the relatively unknown Kostas Tsimikas.
The Greek defender signed from Olympiakos for just £11.75m in August 2020, and it’s arguably the best bit of work Edwards has done – with the exception of Mohamed Salah, of course.
Tsimikas mirrors what Andy Robertson brings to Liverpool, allowing Klopp to chop and change between the pair with no impact to his side whatsoever.
To find a quality backup for a first-team regular, from a fairly small division, and for such a low fee deserves huge credit.
Edwards is a master of his trade, and he has rarely proven that more so than when he found Tsimikas and brought him to Anfield.
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