Diogo our key ingredient
JURGEN KLOPP has put Liverpool’s record scoring form down to a prolonged pre-season for Mo Salah and Sadio Mane and the extra ingredient provided by Diogo Jota.
Liverpool have scored 39 goals in 13 games, the first time they have netted at three goals a game at this stage of the season in their history, with Jota filling the void left by an injury to Roberto Firmino
‘He [Jota] can play all the forward positions,’ said Klopp after the Portuguese forward netted the first two in a 4-0 romp against Southampton.
‘He made the right decision [to sign]. When you talk to a player and they ask where they will play, I say you decide that with our performances. It is not like the line-up is set in stone.
‘It is about making 35 really good games rather that getting through a season and somehow playing 50 games. You need more than 11 players in a squad and more than three strikers and Diogo was smart enough to see that.’
After last season’s problems, when Liverpool were ravaged by injuries and needed a late run to qualify for the Champions League, the rhythm is back at Anfield.
‘We knew we lacked stability last season,’ said Klopp. ‘We had no centrehalves for a while and to find solutions. So it wasn’t a shock we couldn’t find the solidity we have now where everyone knows exactly what he has to do. This year we had a proper pre-season and especially up front with Sadio and Mo. They had the longest pre-season they had for ages and that was helpful and got the stability back.’
But even with a third successive clean sheet, the Liverpool boss is looking for better. ‘I was not happy with the chances we conceded today,’ he said.
‘I have no problem Ali [Alisson] makes saves but they were too spectacular, to have one-on-one with the goalie twice should not happen. We have to work to be as stable, serious, ruthless defensively and that gives us platform to score and create. It will not be for ever like this that we always score two or more.’ Klopp also confirmed talks were ongoing with the Egyptian and Senegal FA to see if Salah and Mane will be able to play in a Premier League game against Chelsea on January 2 before meeting up with their countries for the African Cup of Nations.
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, however, admitted his tactical plans in the first half backfired and he took full responsibility.
‘Everyone could see we had no chance in the first half,’ he said. ‘We had big problems in the half-spaces, we could not stop them which is why we changed it at half-time but the game was gone at that moment.
‘We wanted to surprise them a little bit but we surprised ourselves and it was definitely a mistake against a team on fire. I take the responsibility. I sent them out in the first half with a not-good plan on the pitch and it didn’t work.’