Diogo Jota helped Liverpool into a 2-1 lead in their Carabao Cup clash with West Ham on Wednesday night and upon completing his brace, the Portuguese star showed why he shouldn’t be left out of the Reds’ starting 11.
Arne Slot has opted to use Jota as his starting forward so far this season after a successful pre-season but the 27-year-old did not get on the pitch at the weekend during the Merseyside club’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League.
The Dutch coach chose to play Darwin Nunez over the former Wolves star and the Portuguese talent has hit back in style against West Ham by scoring a brace.
Jota produced a clinical finish to make it 2-1 to Liverpool in the second half and has shown why he should continue to lead the line for the Reds this season.
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— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) September 25, 2024
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Diogo Jota showed his usual goal-poaching tendencies to equalise for Liverpool midway through the first half against West Ham tonight.
The Reds had fallen behind to a messy Jarell Quansah own goal but swiftly restored parity thanks to their number 20 at the other end.
A chipped Cody Gakpo cross was met by Federico Chiesa, who acrobatically hooked the ball towards goal, and Jota was perfectly placed to leap like a kangaroo and get his head to it to nod it into the net.
It was just what Liverpool needed after a poor opening quarter to the game, and just what Jota would’ve wanted, having not scored since the opening day win over Ipswich.
The competition for starting spots in Arne Slot’s attack is really heating up, but there is less strength in depth in defence…
Liverpool kicked-off their Carabao Cup defence with an ultimately facile 5-1 victory over 10-man West Ham at Anfield on Wednesday, with Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo both on target twice for Arne Slot’s side.
Jota hadn’t found the back of the net since the Reds’ Premier League opener at Ipswich and was dropped to the bench for Saturday’s clash with Bournemouth, which featured a stunning strike from Darwin Nunez. However, the Portuguese started just behind the Uruguayan against the Hammers and, after Jarell Quansah had put through his own net, Jota immediately drew Liverpool level by heading in Federico Chiesa’s bouncing effort from just inside the area.
Jota struck again just after half-time, this time after being put in on goal by Curtis Jones, before Mohamed Salah made it 3-1 shortly after coming off the bench. Then, after Edson Alvarez was sent off for picking up a second yellow card, Gakpo got the reward his dynamic display deserved, with the Dutchman netting twice in the dying minutes.
GOAL rates all of the Liverpool players on show on a very positive night for Slot and his players…
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