KEY POINTS

  • Diogo Jota has scored eight goals in 12 matches this season
  • He started the Leicester game Sunday in Salah's absence
  • Liverpool are currently placed second in the Premier League table

Diogo Jota registered a special Liverpool FC record with his goal in the Reds’ 3-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League Sunday.

Jota became the first-ever player for Liverpool to score in his first four top-flight home matches following his score against Leicester City at Anfield, according to Opta Sports. The Portuguese forward, who made a summer move worth £41 million ($54 million) from Wolves to Liverpool, has enjoyed a sensational start to his Reds career.

Before Sunday's visit of Leicester, Jota had scored seven goals in 11 matches for the Reds across all competitions. He has made a difference with his game despite the team already having a well-settled front-three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane. In the absence of Salah, Jota forced himself in Liverpool’s starting XI against Leicester.

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson’s cross from the left was put by Jota past Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, making the hosts’ score 2-0 just before half-time. Roberto Firmino went on to make it 3-0 in the second half. Jota’s goal came after a series of 30 passes and according to Opta Sports, who have data available from 2006-07, it was the most in the build-up to any Premier League goal by Liverpool.

The 23-year-old Jota, who played his debut Premier League season with Wolves in 2018-19, has regularly terrorized Leicester since, having scored four goals in five appearances against the Foxes - the most he has scored against any club.

Liverpool's Diogo Jota (C) celebrates his goal against West Ham
Liverpool's Diogo Jota (C) celebrates with Sadio Mane (L) and Mohamed Salah (R) POOL / Clive Brunskill

Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hailed Firmino after the win at Anfield.

"We were really happy and relieved. He deserved it so much. He played a super game, he played a super game, and was so important for us again. You could see in the face of all the players when he scored that everybody thought, 'Yes, exactly the right goalscorer'," Klopp said at the post-match conference.

Liverpool’s next fixture is the home Champions League clash with Atalanta before they take a trip to Brighton for an away Premier League game Saturday.

RELATED STORIES
Coronavirus Soccer