Crouch picks out skill that Liverpool star ‘does to perfection’
Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has praised Diogo Jota as his movement was done to “perfection” against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.
Jota returned to the starting eleven for Liverpool against Madrid as he came in for Roberto Firmino.
The attacker made an impact early on as he headed his side in front at Anfield. He met Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross to make it 1-0.
Liverpool ignore tantrums as Makkelie role proves crucial
Sadio Mane added to their advantage as Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid 2-0. This win secures the English side’s spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
As reported by HITC, Crouch said after the game that Jota’s movement was done to “perfection” against Madrid:
“From the moment Trent’s looking to play that ball, that’s when Jota’s on the move,” Crouch said.
“When I used to be in the box, receiving [the ball], when I had this amount of space [between the centre-backs]. If Felipe’s not attached himself or feeling the centre-forward, or didn’t feel me, I always felt I had the run on him.
“And the moment Trent’s head goes down, is the moment Jota moves and he does it to perfection.”
Elsewhere, Jurgen Klopp said after the win that he “hated” having to take Mane off at half time:
“Probably everybody in the stadium expected I would do it, each journalist expected I would do it and I thought it was the right thing to do,” Klopp said.
“I hated it more than you can imagine because Sadio played an incredible game, but then what’s the decision?
“I was not worried that Sadio cannot handle his emotions, he was calm. The thing is, the ball comes in the air, you go in for a heading challenge and the other player is going down. We all saw what some Madrid players did, rolling over more and more in all the situations to equal the number of players again.
“I didn’t like it, but I think it was the right thing to do.”
On Atletico’s gamesmanship, Klopp added: “We have no chance at that level.
“I don’t think it’s good or bad. Everybody is different and you have to use your own skillset.
“We have to play our football and that’s what we did.”