Jota gives 11-word response to question on dislodging Liverpool trio

Diogo Jota

Diogo Jota was disappointed he wasn’t able to share his debut goal in front of the Liverpool faithful – but gave nothing away when questioned if he could become a regular under Jurgen Klopp.

Jota scored his first Reds goal as Klopp’s men came from behind to beat Arsenal. It was their third successive Premier League win since the start of the new season.

Substitute Jota struck late on after goals from Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson had cancelled out Alexandre Lacazette’s opener for the visitors.

The Portuguese forward, a £41m arrival from Wolves earlier this month, had been lively during his late appearance.

He saw one shot hit the sidenetting, before Mohamed Salah took another off his toes when he was ready to shoot.

Jota was disappointed no fans were present to witness his debut goal for the club and hopes it is the first of many.

“I just wish it could be with the full stadium. That would be even more special but I am very pleased to help the team and seal the result,” he said.

“The first one is always the hardest one. Now I have one, I want more.”

Jota spoke confidentally when he signed about pushing for a regular first-team shirt.

However, asked about dislodging one of Sadio Mane, Salah or Roberto Firmino, he had a more conservative reply.

“It’s not up to me to decide that, obviously (it is) the manager,” he said.

 

He did, however, insist he would do all he could to impress Klopp in training.

“I will do my job every day in training, hard work, and obviously on matchdays try to do my best and help the team.”

 

Klopp takes exception to Keane comments

A happy Klopp described Liverpool’s performance as “exceptional” after the match. He also took issue with Roy Keane using the word “sloppy” in his analysis.

Jurgen Klopp TEAMtalk

Klopp overheard Keane giving his assessment in the Sky Sports studio as he waited to be interviewed.

The German said: “Did I hear right that Mr Keane said we had a sloppy performance tonight? I could hear you already. Did he say that?

“This was a sloppy performance tonight? Maybe he spoke about another game. It cannot be this game, sorry.

“That’s an incredible description of this game. This was absolutely exceptional. Nothing was sloppy, absolutely nothing. It was, from the first second, dominant against a team in form, 100 per cent in form.

“About this game tonight, there is nothing bad to say.”

 

READ MORE: Lijnders explains why Liverpool trio should fear ‘pressing monster’ Jota