Ian Wright has insisted that Liverpool forward Diogo Jota is “ready” to establish himself as their leading man in attack.
Jota made his move to Liverpool last summer from Wolves. He had spent three seasons with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side before his £41m switch to the Premier League champions.
The Portuguese international’s first season with the Reds has been hampered by injury, but he has still managed to make a great start.
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Jota has 12 goals from his 22 appearances for Liverpool. This includes eight goals from just 13 outings in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old came off the bench to make the difference against Arsenal on Saturday. He netted a brace to help his side beat the Gunners 3-0.
The Metro quote Wright saying that Jota can “easily” score 15-20 goals a season:
“You look at the three guys up front, they’re getting to that stage of their career, 29, 30s.
“You need that next person there. He’s obviously there. He’s ready to go.
“You look at Roberto Firmino, who is one of my favourites. Because of maybe his goal output, which people can have a dig at him for, but what he brings to the team is magnificent… but what Jota brings, apart from the workrate, the press, is the goals, the impact.
“You look at him now and think, yeah, he’s probably one of those that Liverpool have got who can come on. He can easily get 15 or 20 goals a season.
“We’re talking about not being there for so long and he’s in, scoring goals and you feel he’s just going to be a mainstay, without a shadow of a doubt.”
These comments came during a discussion between Wright and Michael Owen. The former Liverpool forward believes that Jota should “definitely” start:
“He (Jota) plays. Definitely. I think he played before today, if I’m honest. He’s come back from international duty, scoring three goals in two games.
“Most managers this weekend so far have rested a lot of their players who have played a lot of international football. Jurgen Klopp did exactly the same, he went for a bit of freshness with Firmino in there.
“I think he’s going to start, who would have thought that? We’ve spoken about the three attacking players for Liverpool, never being challenged.
“You would have thought he’s coming in for backup but in the blink of an eye – he’s had a decent sized injury in the middle as well – all of a sudden, I think if it’s the Champions League final tomorrow he’s one of the first names, he’s certainly starting.”
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