Diogo Jota provides latest Liverpool clue as subdued Mohamed Salah outshone

There are times during a Liverpool football match when it is easy to wonder just exactly what Diogo Jota brings to the party.

Not too many tricks or assists, that is for sure, although he did set up Bruno Fernandes for a goal that sealed Portugal’s passage to the World Cup in Qatar. He is not exactly whippet-quick, he does not skin defenders.

But in case you actually were wondering, he provided yet another example of the priceless quality he gives to Jurgen Klopp’s team. Jota is a natural-born finisher, very much cast in the Robbie Fowler -style of penalty box goalscorer.

You saw it in his previous Premier League outing with an opportunistic finish to break the deadlock at Arsenal and you saw it here with a classical headed finish to put Liverpool ahead. So often, Jota always appears to be one physical and mental step ahead of defenders.

So often, he selects the right kind of finish. He now has 14 Premier League goals, only behind penalty-taking Mohamed Salah, who has 20 (five spot-kicks). And it would take a long and hard search to discover a striker with greater aerial prowess. It does not matter how short or tall you are, heading is all about timing and technique.

Jota has both qualities in abundance. When Joe Gomez set himself to do an eminently passable impression of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jota darted between two defenders and did not have to break stride to divert the cross beyond Ben Foster. And twice in the second half, he rose highest to send in decent headed attempts.

There is still some uncertainty about the amount Liverpool paid Wolves for Jota back in September, 2020. Various figures between £40million and £50million have been suggested but what is certain is that the Portuguese forward has been