Diogo Jota ready to add another new element to Liverpool’s attack after proving the X-factor in Arsenal win
Liverpool got the better of Arsenal in north London this evening, with Diogo Jota’s introduction off the bench having proven the game’s turning point.
Jota at the double
Saturday’s final, and most high-profile Premier League fixture played out at the Emirates a short time ago.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners played host to Liverpool, aiming to climb within a solitary point of the champions in the English top-flight table.
The visitors, though, were flying high on the back of a rare positive spell of form prior to the international break, which saw them rattle off a pair of victories over RB Leipzig and Wolves.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gestures on the touchline during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture date: Sunday March 7, 2021. (Photo by Phil Noble/PA Images via Getty Images)
And, when all was said and done this evening, Liverpool went on to make it three wins from three.
On the back of an altogether lacklustre opening 45 minutes, during which Klopp’s men dominated possession but struggled to create, a much-needed piece of quality saw the scoring opened just past the hour-mark.
After being released down the right, Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped a delightful delivery into the heart of the Arsenal box, which was subsequently headed home by Diogo Jota.
4 – Diogo Jota has scored four Premier League goals against Arsenal, against no side has he netted more in the competition. Poacher. pic.twitter.com/klF3AHWWJO
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 3, 2021
And it was two just minutes later, when Mohamed Salah breezed past Gabriel Magalhaes, before coolly slotting through the legs of the onrushing Bernd Leno.
There was still time for Liverpool to pile the misery on Arsenal even further, though.
As the clash rolled into the final 10 minutes, a frankly dreadful Gabriel pass out from the back allowed Salah to pounce, with the Egyptian’s delivery across the face controlled by Sadio Mane on the turn, for Jota to lash home his 2nd of the night:
Jota puts Liverpool 3-0 up!
📺 Watch on Sky Sports PL
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📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/QYVUthWxm2— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2021
This brought a close to the scoring at the Emirates, as Liverpool climbed above both Tottenham and West Ham into 5th in the Premier League table.
Jota’s aerial ability
On a night where the champions again showcased signs that their campaign could yet be salvaged, a number of Liverpool’s stars have since been singled out for praise.
The likes of Fabinho, Salah and Nat Phillips all impressed over the course of the 90 minutes in the capital, to make short work of a generally game Arsenal side.
None, though, proved more central to the eventual result than Diogo Jota.
The Portuguese international was introduced off the bench for Andy Robertson just past the hour mark, and, within minutes, netted the game’s opening goal.
Picking up a clever position between Rob Holding and Calum Chambers, Jota ghosted in at the back post, to direct a powerful header beyond Bernd Leno, and into the roof of the Arsenal net:
What a cross from Alexander-Arnold! Liverpool take the lead!
📺 Watch on Sky Sports PL
📱 Follow #ARSLIV here: https://t.co/x0xe8CO5JC
📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/9K6tQRxZ5f— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2021
The former Wolves man’s goal, though, proved significant in so much more than simply sending Liverpool on their way to another 3 points this evening.
It also showcased a new-found element to Jota’s game, which could prove absolutely crucial to the Reds’ endeavours moving forward.
Having already added an edge to Klopp’s frontline when utilised in place of the less dynamic Roberto Firmino, Jota, of late, has begun to prove himself as a genuine threat in the air.
Over the course of the international break, the 24-year-old netted a trio of goals for Portugal, ALL of which came courtesy of his head.
Diogo Jota scores his second header of the night!
Portugal comfortable in Belgrade! #SRBPOR #WCQ pic.twitter.com/auvCnZACYo
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 27, 2021
With Liverpool having so often come up short in their attacking efforts to this point in the campaign, generally due to being predictable and one-dimensional, Jota’s blossoming aerial prowess could completely revamp the Merseysiders’ attack, handing opposing backlines a completely new threat to plan for, and deal with.
Diogo Jota’s last four goals for club and country have all been headers 😱
High flyer! pic.twitter.com/tq6zfjD1L3
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 3, 2021
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City FC | 30 | 43 | 71 |
| 2 | Manchester United FC | 29 | 24 | 57 |
| 3 | Leicester City FC | 29 | 21 | 56 |
| 4 | Chelsea FC | 30 | 16 | 51 |
| 5 | West Ham United FC | 29 | 10 | 49 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 29 | 19 | 48 |
| 7 | Liverpool FC | 29 | 12 | 46 |
| 8 | Everton FC | 28 | 3 | 46 |
| 9 | Arsenal FC | 29 | 8 | 42 |
| 10 | Leeds United | 30 | -1 | 42 |
| 11 | Aston Villa FC | 28 | 9 | 41 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace FC | 29 | -16 | 37 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 29 | -10 | 35 |
| 14 | Southampton FC | 29 | -15 | 33 |
| 15 | Burnley FC | 29 | -15 | 33 |
| 16 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 29 | -4 | 32 |
| 17 | Newcastle United FC | 29 | -20 | 28 |
| 18 | Fulham FC | 30 | -15 | 26 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 30 | -34 | 21 |
| 20 | Sheffield United FC | 30 | -35 | 14 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 18 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 17 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 16 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 14 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 14 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 13 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 12 |
| Gundogan, Ilkay | Manchester City FC | 12 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 11 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 10 |
| Watkins, Ollie | Aston Villa FC | 10 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 9 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City FC | 9 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace FC | 9 |
| Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick | Arsenal FC | 9 |
| Soucek, Tomas | West Ham United FC | 9 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 8 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 8 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lundstram, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 8 |
| Gallagher, Conor | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 8 |
| Maguire, Harry | Manchester United FC | 0 | 8 |
| Bellerin, Hector | Arsenal FC | 0 | 8 |
| Milivojevic, Luka | Crystal Palace FC | 1 | 7 |
| Hayden, Isaac | Newcastle United FC | 0 | 8 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 7 |
| Xhaka, Granit | Arsenal FC | 1 | 6 |
| Phillips, Kalvin | Leeds United | 0 | 7 |
| Evans, Jonny | Leicester City FC | 0 | 7 |
| Egan, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 6 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 6 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 6 |
| Tielemans, Youri | Leicester City FC | 0 | 6 |
| McGoldrick, David | Sheffield United FC | 0 | 6 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United FC | 0 | 6 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 0 | 6 |
| Klich, Mateusz | Leeds United | 0 | 6 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 6 |
| Hojbjerg, Pierre | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 0 | 6 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 13 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 10 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 10 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City FC | 10 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 9 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 7 |
| Cresswell, Aaron | West Ham United FC | 7 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 6 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 6 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 6 |
| Pereira, Matheus | West Bromwich Albion | 6 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 6 |
| Werner, Timo | Chelsea FC | 6 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 6 |
| Digne, Lucas | Everton FC | 6 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 5 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 5 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United FC | 5 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 5 |
| Harrison, Jack | Leeds United | 5 |
