Klopp reveals lengthy courting of Jota after debut Liverpool goal

Will Ford

Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for Diogo Jota after he came off the bench to score on his Liverpool debut.

The former Wolves man could have had a hat-trick having come on with around ten minutes to play, eventually wrapping up the victory over Arsenal with the third goal in a 3-1 victory.

Klopp was delighted for his new signing, but insists it will take time for him to get used to their style of play.


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“I’m really pleased for Diogo Jota. Top, top guy,” Klopp told the BBC. “It’s so difficult to improve a team like ours. He’s been on my list for two or three years, he’s here now.

“Diogo came on, played his natural football, tried to defend the way we defend and he’s only on about 20 per cent of information for what we do exactly.

“We had team meetings to talk about it, but it will take time.

“Today he had like 60 or 70 minutes time to watch how Sadio is doing it and he came on the pitch and played incredibly well.

“He scored a super goal, nice first game at Anfield. So he will never forget that and I will never forget it, so a cool start.”

Klopp dismissed an earlier incident in which Mohamed Salah appeared to steal the ball away from Jota, before hailing his full-back duo for their link-up play for the second goal.

“Mo didn’t take it off his foot, Mo played an absolutely exceptional game tonight,” Klopp added.

“Robbo, I don’t think Robbo’s goal was a reaction to the situation before (Arsenal’s first) but it was just his performance and the reaction was really good.

“And then the goal was a cross from the right full-back and then the left full-back finished it off, which is absolutely amazing, I love it.”