New boy Jota is backed to make a splash at Pool
LIVERPOOL assistant manager Pep Lijnders insists new signing Diogo Jota will have no problem making his mark at the club as he is as technically-gifted as Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
The Portugal international, who joined at the weekend from Wolves for an initial fee of £41m, has been bought to provide support to the Reds’ famed front three.
He will most likely get an early chance to impress in the Carabao Cup third-round tie at Lincoln tonight and Lijnders, who has a long association with the player from their days in Portugal, is convinced it will not be long before he is up to speed.
“What can I say? His technical level is on the same as our front three,” said the Dutchman, who promised people might be surprised by how strong their team is against the unbeaten League One side.
“He has so much future in the game and he will have a great pathway inside our club. He’s like a pressing monster, so he will fit in straight away.
“We played against each other when he was very young. In Portugal, they all say what a great signing Liverpool made, because they know exactly how he is and what kind of potential he still has.
“He will fit into our style. We are happy with him, and all the things we heard are true. He is a very professional, passionate, dedicated, brave player.”
Jota’s fellow new signing Thiago Alcantara has already had chance to show his quality with a 45-minute cameo in Sunday’s victory over 10-man Chelsea, having only arrived on Friday in a £20m deal from Bayern Munich.
Midfield is the one area where Liverpool have plenty of options but Lijnders said the 29-year-old gives them a different dimension and will have no issue fitting in.
“He is a great signing. We didn’t buy a problem, we bought a solution,” said the Dutchman.
“Good teams need good players and we are really happy he is with us because this team especially deserves a player like him because he will make sure we keep evolving.
“Teams adapt, teams try to destroy our plans and what is most important is that we stay unpredictable and unpredictability means from each position we can play the last pass and we can speed up the games and Thiago does that for us.”
Lincoln boss Michael Appleton believes he must attempt to outwit the world’s best manager when his team locks horns with Liverpool.
Former Manchester United midfielder Appleton insists Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest of all time, but rates Jurgen Klopp top of the current pile.
“There are some top drawer managers out there, but Jurgen Klopp has just got that edge on them all at this moment in time,” said Appleton.
“I worked with the greatest ever, in my eyes, and it will take some doing for someone to top Sir Alex.
“But at this moment Jurgen is right up there. Pep Guardiola has been in that position and he’s more than capable of being in that position again.
“Jose Mourinho’s obviously been in that position and same goes for him. Hansi Flick has just won the treble with Bayern Munich and Carlo Ancelotti is doing great at Everton.
“But at this moment in time Klopp has got to be, if not the best, then he is certainly in the top two.”