Liverpool star Diogo Jota delivered another Jekyll and Hyde performance in a Crystal Palace victory at the Selhurst Park Stadium. The Reds beat Palace 0-1 in the tricky away Premier League game to remain at the top of the table.
Jota scored the only goal, showcasing his predatory instinct and knack for finishing in the ninth minute of the game. However, the Portuguese international had several other opportunities to extend the lead and calm the proceedings but failed to capitalize.
Liverpool fans adore the 27-year-old but his past issues with recurring injuries and limitations in overall play are slightly problematic. Nevertheless, new head coach Arne Slot has preferred Jota over Darwin Nunez during the start of his tenure at Liverpool.
Jota has made nine appearances for the Reds in all competitions this season, scoring four goals and providing two assists. He started in seven of those nine games for Liverpool while struggling with inconsistencies despite the team’s strong overall form.
Liverpool have won nine out of 10 games in all competitions so far, conceding only four goals with efficient performances. While Jota’s finishing played a key role once again, many wondered about the reaction if Nunez missed that many chances.
The Uruguayan international has faced severe criticism for missing easy chances last season and straying to offside positions many times. Nevertheless, Nunez’s linkup play and ability to create space and chances for others are very important parts of his game.
While Nunez and Jota are equally hard-working for their teammates, the stark difference lies in the overall play and finishing. However, Jota has missed many chances this season and that raises a lot of questions about the difference in treatment.
According to SofaScore, Jota missed two big chances and had two shots off target with only one hitting the target. He delivered 25 passes with 64% passing accuracy, losing possession 18 times and winning four out of 10 ground duels.
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Jota only won three out of eight aerial duels, committing three fouls and the opponent dribbled past him one time. The 27-year-old remains a fan favourite for his match-winning ability but many are rightfully asking if he is more than an impact player that Liverpool needs to lead the line continuously.
