Diogo Jota has claimed that Liverpool were ‘almost perfect’ in attack during today’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest.
The Reds rode their luck at times, but ended up with all three points at Anfield. There were some shaky defensive performances, but in the end a double from Jota and Mohamed Salah’s neat finish ensure the win.
And in quotes relayed by BBC Sport after the game, Liverpool’s No.20 praised his teammates offensive cutting edge.
“I think it was really important to win and follow up the last win,” the Portugal star said. “It was a difficult game like we expected. We had to wait for that goal to arrive and they did come back twice which can happen, but it’s something we need to look back at.
“Set-pieces are very important and we know that they scored from them too. We need to improve defensively, but offensively we were almost perfect.”
Jota re-announces himself at Anfield
‘Almost perfect’ is surely an exaggeration from Jota. Liverpool could have and probably should have had a few more goals here.
But regardless of that, it’s great to see them rediscover their scoring touch. Having scored just one goal in their previous three games, the Reds have now found the net 11 times in the subsequent trio of matches.
Key to that has been Jota. Having gone over a year without a goal before Monday’s trip to Leeds, the 26-year-old now has four in two.
His brace today was a reminder of just how clinical Jota can be. The first was pure poachery. After Fabinho did well to steer a loose ball back across goal with his head, the Portugal international stole in to nod into an empty net. A timely reminder of how clinical Jota can be with his head.
If that was nice to see though, then his second was a pure delight. Expertly springing the offside trap, Jota took Andy Robertson’s free-kick wonderfully on his chest. He took another touch with his knee and then fired a perfect left-footed volley across Keylor Navas and into the net.
Only some acrobatics from Navas spared Diogo a hat-trick, having sent a looping header over the ‘keeper late in the game. Almost perfect? No. But my word, how good is it to have this man back in form.