Klopp says no Firmino-Jota selection headache
Jurgen Klopp welcomed Diogo Jota’s continued fine form but swatted away suggestions it had given him a selection headache over Roberto Firmino ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester City.
After scoring three crucial goals in Liverpool’s last three games, Jota replaced Firmino in the starting line-up for Liverpool’s Champions League clash at Atalanta and scored his first hat-trick for the Reds in a 5-0 rout in Bergamo.
“That was the decision tonight, it made sense to use the shape Diogo was in, and because of the way Atalanta plays and defends, it made sense that the skillset of Diogo helps.
“But the world is sometimes really in a bad place when the moment someone’s shining, we speak immediately about another player who had played what feels like 500 games in a row.
“We would not even be in the Champions League if Bobby Firmino wasn’t with us, and immediately I have to explain why he’s not in the team. He will be in the team.
“For a lot of people in the world, if you asked them what makes Liverpool on Sunday special, they would say the way Bobby Firmino is playing.
“It’s important for us that we have more than 11, and tonight Diogo used his shape in an incredible way and played a super, super game.
“But that says nothing about Bobby and has nothing to do with causing me headaches. I’m more than happy that the boys played like that tonight.”
Liverpool’s scintillating attacking performance – which also featured goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane – was underpinned by an exemplary defensive display which featured Rhys Williams, who made his full Champions League debut after coming off the bench in the opening two group games.
-Report by skysports
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