MY ACCOUNT
Mohamed Salah’s long-term Liverpool future remains unclear — but Diogo Jota could have what it takes to fill his sizeable boots.
The Egyptian frontman’s contract is up in 2023 and there is no guarantee that he will agree a new deal with the Merseysiders.
However, Jota has been going from strength to strength since signing for the club for £41million back in September 2020.
So, as the Reds prepare to face Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie tonight, we shine a spotlight on their Portuguese star.
Quick conversion
While Jota had previously been deployed as a central striker on occasion, it has only become his default position since joining Liverpool.
Predominantly a left winger during his time at former club Wolves, he seemingly moved to Anfield as cover for Sadio Mane.
But the Porto native has taken to playing through the middle like a duck to water and reached new heights in doing so.
Having only turned 25 in December, he can still soar higher yet.
A perfect signing
Breaking up Liverpool’s Champions League and Premier League title-winning front three of Salah, Roberto Firmino and Mane was bound to be a big challenge.
Jota was evidently up for it though — and manager Jurgen Klopp has praised the way he has applied himself.
Discussing Jota’s impact, he said: “He has everything a Liverpool player in this squad needs. He has the technical skills, he has the physical skills and he is very smart so can learn all the tactical stuff quickly.
“You need more than 11 players in a squad and you need more than three strikers, even though we play with three strikers and he was smart enough to see that.”
Eyes on the prize
Since last season, Salah has struck 51 times in the Premier League and Champions League, at a rate of 0.74 per 90 minutes.
But Jota is not far behind in terms of goalscoring frequency, notching 26 at 0.65 per 90.
The 22-cap international has proved himself to be a hugely dependable marksman for the Reds and is their second-top scorer in all competitions this term, with 17 goals to Salah’s 23.
In fact, with 12 Premier League goals, he sits behind only Salah (16) in the race for the Golden Boot.
Jota can even claim statistical bragging rights when it comes to finding the net from open play over the past two campaigns — he has done so 0.58 times per 90, compared with Salah’s 0.53 in the league and Champions League.
Heading for greatness
An important weapon in Jota’s attacking arsenal is his ability in the air — perhaps the only area where he is clearly stronger than Salah.
In the Premier League and Champions League since the start of last season, he has scored seven headers (0.18 per 90) to Salah’s two (0.03 per 90).
Granted, Jota’s usually central role means he is likely to find himself with heading opportunities more often than Salah — but his aerial prowess is certainly noteworthy.
Valuable versatility
While Klopp has enjoyed great success at Liverpool with his 4-3-3 set-up, he has been known to tweak that formation now and then.
As such, Salah has occasionally found himself leading the line in a 4-2-3-1.
Were Liverpool’s Egyptian hero to depart the club then Jota would surely stay central, though he would find himself as a lone striker rather than as one prong of a 4-3-3.
But if Salah stays, Jota’s versatility could see him take up various roles, whenever Klopp deems such a tactical shift necessary.
Although he would broadly be classed as a striker now, the Reds’ attacker can operate as a No10 or from the right — as well as from the left, of course.
No matter what the future holds, Jota is on the right track to become the next Anfield icon.
