Jamie Carragher has claimed that Diogo Jota is ‘the best finisher’ when compared with some of Liverpool’s greatest ever strikers.
The Portugal international scored twice during Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth on Sunday, which saw them go five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Jota, 27, took his goal tally to 11 in all competitions after finding the back of the net twice against Bournemouth and Reds legend Carragher was quick to heap praise on the forward.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Carragher said: ‘Jurgen Klopp has said how clever a player he is. He can play on the left, through the middle and the right.
‘Liverpool are still trying to work out who is going to play that role [through the middle] even though they’re 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 made the claims on Sky Sports after the match
‘They’ve had Diaz there, Jota, Harvey Elliot [on the right]. Maybe it’s now Jota’s position. I’ve played with some great Liverpool strikers.
‘Jamie [Redknapp] certainly has in Robbie Fowler, I think of some of the strikers I’ve played alongside… Michael Owen, Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres, Robbie Fowler… I think he’s the best finisher.
‘Robbie maybe in terms of pure finishing, hard and low into the corner. But this is typical Jota. When he gets he chance he is so clinical. This season, he’s got a goal or an assist every 84 minutes.
‘There’s only two or three players in the Premier League who are higher than that. He sums up Liverpool’s recruitment over the past five or six years.’
Since joining the Reds from Wolves in 2020, Jota has gone on to make 134 appearances for Liverpool and has scored 50 goals in that time.
The Portugal international has also managed to pick up 20 assists in all competitions at the club, as he continues to shine for the high-flying Reds.
Comparatively, Fowler – who Carragher argued could challenge Jota as an outright finisher – scored 183 goals from 369 appearances for the Reds.
Fowler played for the Reds between 1993-2002 before leaving to join Leeds. He then returned to Merseyside for two seasons in 2005.
Fowler played for the Reds between 1993-2002 – scoring 183 goals from 369 appearances – before leaving to join Leeds
Jota produced two emphatic finishes to help ensure victory for the Merseyside club on Sunday
Meanwhile, Owen managed to score 158 goals from his 297 appearances for Liverpool and also recorded 50 assists in that time.
Interestingly, Jota’s highest league tally for Liverpool (15) was bettered by Owen in all-but-one of his seasons whilst at Liverpool.
Former Barcelona striker Luis Suarez – who recently joined Lionel Messi at Inter Miami – boasts 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 did, however, trails his goal tally by 32.
The Uruguayan also managed to record 48 assists for the club. That takes him to 128 goal involvements from 133 appearances. Staggering.
Finally, Fernando Torres – who spent four seasons in Merseyside – managed to score 81 goals from 142 appearances in all competitions for the Reds.
After the game, Carragher took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to ask his followers if they agreed on his views on Liverpool’s ‘best finisher’.
He also wrote: ‘Suarez is the best player, but not the best finisher out of these 4!’
Carragher claimed Luis Suarez is ‘the best player’ out of the bunch but ‘not the best finisher’
With Mohamed Salah suffering an injury at AFCON recently, Jota may be required to step-up to the plate more often for Klopp’s side.
However, Klopp said on Sunday night that Salah is likely to be treated by Liverpool’s doctors instead of remaining at the tournament.
‘That’s the plan,’ said Klopp when asked if Salah might return to Merseyside. ‘If that’s already decided (trails off…). However long he is out, it probably makes sense for everybody to (rehab) with us and our people. That’s the plan. If that’s written in stone already, I don’t know.’
Klopp spoke to Salah on the phone immediately after the game on Thursday and the Egyptian has been in constant contact with Liverpool’s medical teams.
