Diogo Jota has enjoyed a dream start to life at Liverpool since signing from Wolves, and that continued against Atalanta as he scored a Champions League hat-trick.
But how did Jota play overall?
📷 Jota: Match Snapshot
⚽ ⏱️ 16' Having scored in his previous three outings for Liverpool, Jota showed intelligence, strength and composure to open the scoring in Bergamo.
In what was already a very open game, Trent Alexander-Arnold split the Atalanta defence open with a precise pass down the right channel. Under pressure from Jose Luis Palomino, the 23-year-old hared after the ball, outpacing his marker then outmuscling him to retain possession. With the goalkeeper to beat, he chipped a cheeky finish into the net with the toe of his left boot.
⚽ ⏱️ 34' Confidence high, Jota’s second goal of the night was of remarkable quality. He was picked out by a long diagonal cross from Joe Gomez towards the back post. Quick as a flash, he brought the ball down and took one touch to eliminate his marker.
Having created space for a shooting opportunity, he grabbed his chance spectacularly, fizzing a low right-footed shot into the corner of the net.
It was an opportunist finish just as his first was, but this one was very different, showing off his technical ability.
⚽ ⏱️ 54' Goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane had already sealed the three points for Liverpool by the time Jota complete his hat-trick just nine minutes into the second half.
Once again it was a goal that showcased the Reds’ quality on the break and the striker’s lightning pace.
Mane was catalyst for the strike that rounded off their evening, playing a ball down the left that Jota latched onto. Clear on goal, he had the wherewithal to dance round the goalkeeper and roll the ball into the empty net.
Atalanta 0-5 Liverpool: Player Ratings, Match Stats, Player Stats
〽️ Jota: Rating Week-on-Week
✔️ IMPROVEMENT
Jota’s trend is a positive one, but after scoring in five successive matches, that is little surprise. After securing a 6.2 FC Rating in the opening Champions League fixture against Ajax, he has improved almost on a match-by-match basis, with a 7.1 FC Rating against West Ham at the weekend a blip in that run.
Against Atalanta, he enjoyed a perfect 10 FC Rating.
🗝️ Key Stats
Jotamatch stats
Statistic | Value | Notes |
FC Rating | 10 | |
Mins Played | 65 | |
Touches | 41 | |
Comp Dribbles | 2 | |
Shots | 4 | Rank #2 |
On Target | 4 | Rank #1 |
Goals | 3 | |
Assists | 0 |
Jota: What Next?
With Manchester City to come on Sunday, it seems unthinkable that Jurgen Klopp will drop Jota for the out-of-form Roberto Firmino. The No.9 slot is now in his possession.