Jamie Carragher has claimed that Diogo Jota is ‘the best finisher’ compared to some of Liverpool’s greatest ever strikers.
The Portugal international was on hand to score a goal during Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth on Sunday evening, putting them five points clear at the top of the Premier League.
27-year-old Jota took his goal tally to 11 in all competitions after finding the back of the net twice against Bournemouth. Afterwards, Reds legend Carragher was quick to praise the striker.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Carragher said: ‘Jurgen Klopp has said how smart a player he is. He can play left, center and right.
‘Liverpool are still trying to figure out who is going to play that role (through the centre), even though they are winning games, without Salah.
Diogo Jota scored twice during Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth on Sunday evening
The Portugal international was later compared to former Reds strikers such as Michael Owen (L) and Fernando Torres (R)
Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher revealed the claims to Sky Sports after the match
Your browser does not support iframes.
“They’ve had Diaz there, Jota, Harvey Elliot (right). Maybe it’s Jota’s position now. I’ve played with some great Liverpool strikers.
“Jamie (Redknapp) certainly has that in Robbie Fowler, I think of some of the strikers I’ve played with… Michael Owen, Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres, Robbie Fowler… I think he’s the best finisher.
‘Robbie perhaps in terms of pure finish, hard and low in the corner. But this is typical Jota. When he gets the chance he is so clinical. This season he has a goal or an assist every 84 minutes.
‘There are only two or three players in the Premier League who are higher than that. He lists Liverpool’s recruitment over the last five or six years.’
Since joining the Reds from Wolves in 2020, Jota has made 134 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 50 goals in that time.
The Portugal international has also managed to collect 20 assists in all competitions at the club as he continues to shine for the high-flying Reds.
By comparison, Fowler – who Carragher believes could challenge Jota as an outright finisher – has scored 183 goals from 369 games for the Reds.
Fowler played for the Reds between 1993 and 2002 before moving to Leeds. He then returned to Merseyside for two seasons in 2005.
Fowler played for the Reds between 1993 and 2002, scoring 183 goals from 369 appearances, before leaving for Leeds
Jota produced two emphatic finishes to secure victory for the Merseyside club on Sunday
Meanwhile, Owen managed to score 158 goals in his 297 appearances for Liverpool and also recorded 50 assists in that time.
Interestingly, Jota’s highest score for Liverpool (15) was bettered by Owen in all but one season at Liverpool.
Former Barcelona striker Luis Suarez – who recently joined Lionel Messi at Inter Miami – has a record of 82 goals from 133 appearances during his time at Anfield.
Currently, Jota has played one more game for the Reds than Suarez, but he is behind by 32 goals.
The Uruguayan also managed to record 48 assists for the club. That brings him to 128 goals from 133 appearances. Staggering.
Ultimately, Fernando Torres – who spent four seasons on Merseyside – managed to score 81 goals from 142 games in all competitions for the Reds.
After the match, Carragher took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to ask his followers if they agreed with his opinion of Liverpool’s ‘best finisher’.
He also wrote: ‘Suarez is the best player, but not the best player of these four!’
Carragher claimed Luis Suarez is ‘the best player’ in the pack but ‘not the best finisher’
With Mohamed Salah recently suffering an injury at AFCON, Jota may have to appear on stage more often for Klopp’s side.
However, Klopp said on Sunday night that Salah is likely to be treated by Liverpool doctors rather than remain at the tournament.
“That’s the plan,” Klopp said when asked about Salah’s possible return to Merseyside. ‘If that has already been decided (leave…). However long he is absent, it probably makes sense for everyone to (rehabilitate) with us and our people. That’s the plan. I don’t know if that’s already written in stone.’
Klopp spoke to Salah on the phone immediately after the match on Thursday and the Egyptian has been in constant contact with Liverpool’s medical teams.