Jota was ‘Plan B’ for Klopp as Liverpool first choice is revealed
Liverpool had a different first-choice target before bringing Diogo Jota to Anfield in the summer, according to reports.
Much of the success Klopp has had, winning the Champions League and the Premier League, has been down to the way Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have combined on the forward line.
However, Firmino was dropped for the 5-0 Champions League win against Atalanta in Bergamo to make way for the in-form Jota and the new signing seized his chance with a hat-trick.
BIG WEEKEND: Man City v Liverpool, Solskjaer, Adams, Leicester
The former Wolves player has scored six goals in the last 10 days and already has more goals for the club in 2020 (seven) than Firmino (five).
However, the Daily Mirror claims Jota was actually the Reds’ ‘Plan B in the summer transfer window’ with Liverpool initially preferring to target Watford winger Ismaila Sarr.
The Hornets ‘wouldn’t budge’ on their stance that they wanted most of the £45m fee for Sarr up front and Liverpool eventually ‘turned their attention’ to Jota.
Speaking about Jota’s recent form, Klopp said recently: “Good performances never give me a headache.
“For tonight the decision it was clear. It made sense to use the good shape Diogo is in and because of the way Atalanta plays and defends the skillset of Diogo helps.
“But the world is sometimes a bad place that in a moment when someone is shining we speak immediately about another player – who it feels like played for us 500 games in a row and we wouldn’t be in the Champions League if Bobby Firmino is not with us – and I have to explain why he is not in the team. He will be in the team.
“It is important we have more than 11 and tonight Diogo played a super game and that says nothing about Bobby and nothing to do with causing me headaches.
“I am more than happy the boys played like they played tonight.”
It might well be the biggest weekend of the season so far. The two biggest title contenders finally clash in a long-awaited meeting, but will Leicester or Wolves come out on top? Liverpool also play Manchester City or something apparently.