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“He’s a decent player … Firmino will want to start and this guy has put him under a lot of pressure”: Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen praise Diogo Jota for his brilliant hat-trick in Liverpool’s 5-0 win over the Atalanta.
- Diogo Jota scored a hat-trick when Liverpool defeated Atalanta in Europe
- The Portuguese star is in top form with seven goals in his first ten games
- Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen were quick to praise the forward
- Experts agree that Jota is now putting pressure on Roberto Firmino as the starter of the first team
Rio Ferdinand feels Liverpool’s newest player Diogo Jota will firmly knock on Jurgen Klopp’s door for a starting spot this season, and could well usurp the popular Roberto Firmino in the starting eleven.
Ferdinand and his fellow former professionals Michael Owen and Peter Crouch were blown away by the Portuguese, following his sensational hat-trick against Atalanta in the Champions League.
Jota continued his red-hot streak by finishing Liverpool three times, prompting Ferdinand and Owen to praise his efforts in unison.
Diogo Jota is Liverpool’s man of the moment and has scored seven goals in his first ten games
Speaking in the BT Sport studio after the match, Ferdinand said: ‘I’m sure Firmino will be sitting there compiling a little playlist to remind you [Jurgen Klopp] what he is capable of because Firmino, like it or not, will want to start and this guy has put him under great pressure.
‘[It was] a perfect night, Klopp couldn’t have asked for more, ‘added Ferdinand.
“Clean sheets, new association in central defender, forwards – the recruiting team has done fantastically well.”
Jota was ruthless in Bergamo and hit the back of the net three times to seal a hat-trick
Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen were deeply impressed and went lyrical about Jota
Former Liverpool player Owen was also quick to acknowledge how seamlessly Jota has adapted to Klopp’s system, while also learning from his mistakes in the red jersey.
“It’s an impressive hat-trick, he lost his first big chance of the day, but he learned his lesson. So it was just a masterclass, particularly the first three, ‘Owen said.
‘You want to be accepted by your team, the first thing I felt at the club is that you have to earn the respect of your teammates.
‘I have to earn respect and make people pass you when you’re under pressure.
“People are willing to trust him, he’s a suitable player.”
Liverpool rampaged in Bergamo, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane also finding the back of the net in a victory that sees the Reds comfortably ahead of Group D with maximum points taken.
For Ferdinand, the reason Jota has adapted so well to Liverpool comes down to having better and more similar players around him.
The United legend explained: “He’s playing for a better team, he probably had as many chances for Liverpool as he did for Wolves last season.
Jota now seems more and more likely to start with Sadio Mane and Mo Salah against Man City
“It was almost as if you had to have a great man on your team, but there are three very similar players here. They are all the same height, they hold the ball so well.
Liverpool return to action this weekend against arch rival Manchester City, leaving Klopp with a few days to reflect on which of their stars to include in the starting eleven.
Another former Liverpool player, Peter Crouch, feels it’s about consistency and letting fit players play together as much as possible.
Chipping into the studio conversation with Ferdinand and Owen, Crouch added, “ When you have a front three like that, you just have to go and let them play.
“They’ve made it through all three games here resting players, they’re navigating through this group.”
