Rio Ferdinand has heaped praise on Diogo Jota following a majestic start to his Liverpool career this season.
As reported by Liverpool Echo, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has recently opened up about the impact of Liverpool’s new signing Diogo Jota. The former English defender has praised the club for the smart signing as well as the Portuguese international, who has been one of the most impactful players in the Premier League so far this campaign.
“You’ve got to give time up for this man, Diogo Jota has come in and four goals in his first four starts for Liverpool [in the league],” the Manchester United legend said on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE before adding, “The recruitment at Liverpool – what they have done to get him, so far what he has produced – is fully justified.”
Ferdinand’s comments come just a few days after Jota starred in Liverpool’s sublime 3-0 win over high-flying Leicester City, with the player notably scoring the second goal. He also drew a couple of fine saves from goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and his overall contributions were key, especially amid the absence of Mohamed Salah.
The Portuguese international has now scored a total of eight goals in 12 matches in all competitions since joining from Wolves in the summer. On the weekend, he also made history by becoming the first Liverpool player to score in his opening four top-flight matches at Anfield and the forward has now netted a total of five goals at home so far.
Diogo Jota at Anfield for LFC:
⚽️ Arsenal
⚽️ Sheffield United
⚽️ Midtjylland
⚽️ West Ham
⚽️ Leicester5 games, 5 goals. What a signing ? pic.twitter.com/AGqTVMxn0v
— LFC Stats (@LFCData) November 22, 2020
Jota’s influential performances have been critical for the Reds, in what has been an otherwise slow start to the campaign. The club has had to deal with a myriad of injury problems, especially in the defensive department. It has, thus, prompted Jurgen Klopp to scout the market for a new centre-back, with Milan Skriniar among players identified as a potential option.
Fortunately for the German tactician, he will not have to worry so much in the offensive unit, where Jota’s contributions have already brought in a selection dilemma. In fact, it was Ferdinand himself who warned an underperforming Roberto Firmino to be more careful of his starting spot following the Portuguese international’s early impact at Anfield, earlier this month.
And as we move deeper into the campaign, it would be interesting to see whether or not Klopp looks to break the traditional front three of Firmino, Sadio Mane and Salah by accommodating Jota into the starting eleven. For now, there is little stopping Jota, who has drawn some much-deserved praise from Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand.
