Liverpool have had a long two weeks to reflect on their 7-2 defeat to Aston Villa.They would have loved nothing more than another match a few days later to banish the nightmare of Villa Park from their memories.Instead, their players jetted off around the world to play international matches before this weekend’s upcoming Merseyside Derby.You couldn’t blame Liverpool players for looking a bit down representing their country as the scars of that humiliating defeat remain.However, that certainly wasn’t the case for Diogo Jota on Wednesday night.Liverpool’s new summer signing scored twice and assisted another as Portugal beat Sweden 3-0 in their Nations League match.
His assist came after 21 minutes as he unselfishly squared the ball for Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva to score.
Just before half-time, he got himself on the scoresheet.
Joao Cancelo’s deep cross from the right was controlled and finished expertly by Jota. You can just imagine him getting on the end of some of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s crosses, can’t you?
But his second with 20 minutes remaining was even better.
Coming in off the left, Jota beat two Swedish defenders before firing the ball past Everton’s Robin Olsen.
What a goal.
Who needs Cristiano Ronaldo when you have Diogo Jota?
It was an absolute masterclass from the former Wolves man and he’s surely given Jurgen Klopp a selection headache ahead of Saturday’s Merseyside Derby.
After arriving at the club in a £45 million deal and scoring on his debut against Arsenal, Klopp revealed that he’s actually been tracking the Portuguese for several years.
“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.”