Diogo Jota can save Liverpool during AFCON with elite versatility

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Diogo Jota can be the player Liverpool need as they deal with AFCON absences. The Portugal star has an elite skill.

Liverpool need to deal without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane over the next little while, with both stars playing at the Africa Cup of Nations. That hinders the Reds greatly, with the duo being their star forwards over the last five years.

Fortunately, we do believe Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota can be the kind of partnership Liverpool need. But it’s Jota, in particular, who can make things a lot easier over the next few weeks.

Diogo Jota can save Liverpool over AFCON

Firmino will pretty unquestionably play as a centre-forward – it’s the only role he consistently plays. That moves Jota into one of the wide positions, with Jurgen Klopp needing to pick a third to keep the 4-3-3 intact.

Usually, this would be pretty difficult as you’d need a specific player, left or right. Jota makes things immeasurably easier, however, as he’s one of the few elite forwards who can deliver from either flank.

In fact, we’ve labelled him a 4-in-1 player in the past – someone capable of playing on either flank, as a striker or in a no.10 role. That means Klopp can essentially pick anyone he wants.

Does he want Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from the left? Then Jota can move right. Maybe he fancies Takumi Minamino as a right-winger, though. Jota is just as effective from the left.

There’s even the possibility of switching formation and using both Firmino and Jota centrally. The options are vast and it’s all thanks to Jota being able to provide with both feet, on either flank.

There’s a reason Klopp has called him a ‘perfect signing’, after all. Jota makes a manager’s job far easier and Liverpool are lucky to have him as AFCON continues.