Roy Keane has told ITV (broadcast on 6/2; 14:02) that he does believe that Diogo Jota is underestimated in the air after the Liverpool star scored yet another header this season as the Reds beat Cardiff City in the FA Cup.
Jurgen Klopp’s men will meet Norwich City in another cup competition this season. The tie was set up after Liverpool beat the Bluebirds 3-1 at Anfield on Sunday.
The likes of Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott will take many of the headlines following the win. But it was Jota who set Liverpool on their win with the opening goal early on in the second-half.
The Portuguese found the far corner with a brilliant header from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick. There was not a lot of pace on the attempt from Jota. But it was so precise that the goalkeeper could barely get near the effort from the edge of the box.
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Remarkably, Jota bagged his fifth headed goal of the season in all competition in the win (Transfermarkt). That is despite the forward not being the tallest player on the pitch by any means.
Keane lauded the way that Jota is so dangerous in the air. And he suggested that he is not a player who gets the credit he deserves, particularly from opponents.
“I think it’s because of his size, I think people do underestimate him,” he told ITV. “And I think Paul Scholes used to do the same, he used to get into these positions where people are going, ‘I think he’ll be okay’.
“Yet we’ve seen it over and over again, when he get his chances, he is outstanding in the air. It’s always great to see a great headed goal.”
Jota steps up as Liverpool thrive despite not having Mane and Salah
Many wondered how Liverpool would cope without Sadio Mane and particularly Mo Salah. However, the Reds have done brilliantly at the start of 2022.
They have not lost a single game, drawing two and winning five. And Jota has been absolutely outstanding throughout the campaign.
He now has 15 goals in all competitions. And he has done it in 29 games. He is no longer an understudy for the first-choice front three at Anfield.
Jota is surely now in a good spot in the pecking order. Perhaps he is not yet as important to Liverpool as Salah. But few, if anyone, are on the same level as the Egyptian worldwide.
Jota certainly looks to be on his way towards being unquestionably world-class.
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