A Jota and Alisson wonderland keeps Jurgen dream alive
THERE are times during a Liverpool match when it is easy to wonder just exactly what Diogo Jota brings to the party.
Not too many tricks or assists, although he set up Bruno Fernandes for a goal to seal a slot in Qatar for Portugal.
Jota doesn’t exactly skin defenders. But in case you actually were wondering, he provided yet another example of the priceless quality he offers Jurgen Klopp.
He’s a natural-born finisher, Robbie Fowler-style. You saw it in his previous league outing with an opportunistic finish to break the deadlock at Arsenal and you saw it here with a header to put the hosts in front.
Jota is often a mental and physical step ahead of defenders.
And so often he picks the right kind of finish. He has 14 league goals, only behind Mohamed Salah, who has 20, five being spot-kicks.
And it would take a long and hard search to discover a striker with greater aerial prowess.
It does not matter how short or tall you are, heading is all about timing and technique.
Jota has both qualities in abundance.
When Joe Gomez set himself to do a decent impression of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jota darted between two men and did not break stride to divert the cross past Ben Foster.
Twice in the second half, he rose highest to send in decent headers.
There is still some uncertainty about how much he cost but he has been brilliant value.
And he is one of the reasons why Liverpool will fancy themselves to go flawlessly until the end of the season and win the Premier League.
After the capture of Luis Diaz, Klopp has five high-quality attacking players.
He can perm any three and carry a weighty goal threat.
This time, Klopp sent out Roberto Firmino, Salah and Jota – only the latter was anywhere near his A-game.
Salah was unusually subdued and cut a disconsolate figure when he was replaced by Sadio Mane.
But if Liverpool’s attack is not at its best, the defence usually is.
And at the base of every team is a great goalkeeper. Liverpool and Manchester City are blessed with keepers that must rank amongst the best ever.
And while Ederson has the edge in terms of distribution, Alisson shades it in the shotstopping category.
His positioning is immaculate, as seen when he was alive to a corner routine ending with a Cucho Hernandez header.
But his crucial intervention came when Juraj Kucka found the Brazilian’s figure too imposing to beat.
The save was all the more important when, a few seconds later, Liverpool took the lead.
It was a save that began a lacklustre afternoon for Kucka who, when Watford occasionally chased an equaliser, wrestled Jota to the floor.
Stuart Atwell had not spotted it but VAR sent him to the monitor and a harsh penalty was given.
Substitute Fabinho converted with a conviction that had been lacking from a mundane performance.