11 May 2022 08:27:26
One of our strikers drops deep into the middle of the pitch and finds a load of space for themselves, receives the ball and plays a brilliant first time pass, without looking up, for another one of our strikers to run onto, who in turn crosses for the third of our strikers to score.

Sound familiar? Firmino dropping deep, finding space and playing a perfect pass to set up the attack? No, it was Jota. Our second goal last night.

11 May 2022 09:13:25
Only thing he did all game though mate.

Don't like to whine about players after a win, but trying to imply that Jota is a brilliant link man off the back of one pass is kinda ridiculous.

11 May 2022 09:42:23
Also involved in the first goal - he went in and won the ball in the box which broke to van Dijk to cross for Matip to score. So two "second assists" if you acknowledge second assists as being a thing.

Again, I'm not suggesting Jota is Firmino, or Salah or Mane or Diaz. Or that he gets into our strongest line up. Nor that he is a brilliant link man. I'm not even arguing that he had a great match last night. However, I am challenging what I consider to be a blinkered notion that Jota is somehow this weak link, a player who contributes nothing.

The assertion that Jota "doesn't doing anything other than score goals" or is "useless apart from his goals" is already a bit flaky when the goals being referred to are in excess of 20 for the season, but it's also factually inaccurate - he also gets assists (more than Mane this season) and contributes more than people give him credit for, in my opinion.

We have the perfect example here; a post arguing that the "only thing he did all game" was the pass to Diaz to open up Villa for our second goal ignores his involvement in the first goal. Completely ignoring something that happened right in front of our eyes because it doesn't fit with the view that Jota does nothing for the team (other than score 20+ goals a season. ) .

{Ed014's Note - simply put, a good goal scorer, not the best footballer!

11 May 2022 09:55:13
He’s a good useful player and he works very hard. I just think down the middle, it generally stunts our attacks because he’s not great at holding the ball up and linking the play regularly. I prefer him out wide. Still as you said RR, 20 goals and proved vital when salah and mane were at Afcon. Deserves respect but his limitations can be called out to be improved on.

11 May 2022 09:56:29
Jota can be so frustrating. He has these moments or even these games where he looks like he's figured it out, but then he'll go back to shanking simple sideways passes. At the same time, the lad scores goals and we can't take that for granted. Very valuable player in our squad imo.

11 May 2022 09:52:07
Well put, Ed014.

{Ed014's Note - it just sums him up mate, that and he’s a valuable squad member.

11 May 2022 09:59:53
Is Klopp really that good of a manager if he’s starting and leaving players on the pitch that do absolutely nothing?

If we fail to win another trophy this season then I’d imagine a lot of the blame will fall at Jota and Nabys feet.

But at the end of the day they don’t pick themselves to start or come off the bench.

11 May 2022 10:21:31
Should we not b grateful that we have the depth of front players that when 1r2 is out of form some of others step up? Mo flying 1st half of season, mane average. jota getting several important goals for us when needed, equaliser against spurs,1st goal against arsenal, winner at forest. Jota and mo not playing well at min, diaz and mane on fire. bobby has played well in spells but 2 many injuries this season 2 be a key player. Our front 5 is envy of every team in europe, and will be every big teams ambition 2 have 5 of that type of quality from now on, particularly with 5 subs in premiership next season.

11 May 2022 10:41:05
noticed that too OP. But I think it was mor by chance as opposed to habit as I don't recall him doing it much through the rest of the game or when he did it felt ineffective. But hey if it leads to a goal then algoods!

11 May 2022 12:17:50
Goals are the hardest thing to do in football. Jota great player for rotation as scores lots of goals. Won’t start every game. End of.

11 May 2022 12:27:43
You can’t argue with Jota’s contribution to the team since he has arrived at Liverpool, when he signed I don’t think anyone foresaw the goal return that he has provided! Don’t get me wrong he can be so frustrating when he gives away the ball cheaply or makes a sloppy pass but in truth Salah hasn’t been much better this half of the season, last night summed up Salah’s form of late getting into good positions but picking the wrong pass or just over running the ball difference is he is forgiven for these mistakes because of what he has done and his overall goals return. I’m not suggesting Jota is as good as Salah just pointing out that all players have weak parts of there game but are selected for the team based on there strengths and what they bring to the team and at the moment Jota brings goals.

11 May 2022 13:09:19
I don't want to belabour the point but nobody has been saying anything different. Jota is a goal scorer and knows where the nets are with his eyes closed. Firmino may not be so prolific with his goal scoring but he is clearly a far more complete footballer. Does a lot of other vital things. And integrates into Klopps's "football system" up front, far better than Jota. Maybe Jota will improve and become as effective as Firmino in the other aspects, but we're just commenting on what we see today.

11 May 2022 13:23:27
I don’t see why it is disrespectful or outrageous to appreciate Jota’s qualities but also acknowledge that he needs to do better.

11 May 2022 14:20:55
Its only disrespectful if we acknowledge players other than Jota and Naby on what they can do better.

{Ed0666's Note - I’d sell him as quick as humanely possible. To suggest we can’t buy a player better than him in all facets of the game for a reasonable price is ridiculous.

11 May 2022 14:32:46
No chance of selling it's rediculous to think we can get a player who can score at that rate lol.

11 May 2022 14:38:05
None of our players have had a perfect season JK23. They’ve all had their ups and downs. However over the course of their careers certain players step up to the plate when it matters whereas with others the bad can be seen to outweigh the good.

This has certainly been the case with Jota and Keita, although the past few weeks Keita has stepped it up a notch and seems to have more of a grasp of what is demanded of him. It might not be enough in the long term but fair play to him for that.

Jota’s all round game is still as average as it was when he joined and that is a concern. You can score as many goals as you want but if you can’t defend from the front or link up with your teammates then that isn’t good enough for the very best teams, and it’s no surprise that we look a lot better as a team when he isn’t in the side now.

Like i say, all of our players have had ups and downs, but i don’t think there has ever been a concern over the likes of Trent, Fabinho, van Dijk or even Diaz as to whether they are up to scratch for the standards we set. I understand that in the modern social media afflicted world that some people feel the need for a scapegoat, and that’s often an unjust a toxic mentality to hold, but sometimes it is warranted and clear as day.

Jones, for instance, has been subjected to this, but i personally see nothing wrong with him, he fits our team he’s just inexperienced. The same cannot be said currently of Jota. When he takes to the field he doesn’t look like he fits in at all, at least in my estimations, which is my opinion alone and i speak for nobody else. I’m not saying we need to sell him immediately or anything, but if he doesn’t start improving soon then it is a cause for concern. There can be accountability and criticism without it turning into unfair abuse.

11 May 2022 15:22:23
ArAy196 speaks way too much sense on this topic.

11 May 2022 17:16:03
Its a bit like saying Firmino doesn't score enough goals as a forward. Easy enough to point out a players weakness.
What I would point out tho. There is a reason why goal scorers sell for big money. Hardest thing to do in my opinion, putting the ball in the net.

11 May 2022 18:14:13
You're right Irish Rover. Aside from Ed0666 (who's got a bee in his bonnet over Jota 😂) almost all of us are inclined to actually keep both Jota and Firmino, I would say. Maybe some want to sell Jota, but I certainly have not said it. Both have strengths, and it makes Klopp's life easier in dealing with different kinds of defenses. The key to your post (and it's a subtle one) is that you said goal scorers get the high value and the big bucks. You didn't say center forwards. ManCity has played without a dedicated center forward this year and yet have scored as many goals as us now. And we all know our Firmino is no classic goal scoring center forward either. So as long as the goals are coming in, what's everybody's problem? 😂

Thanks Olired.