Spare a thought for Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who has a pool of attacking talent who are either firing on all cylinders or have the potential to do so.
Diogo Jota reminded everyone of his abilities after sitting out against Bournemouth last time out. Having led the Reds’ frontline in each of his previous appearances, Jota started in a deep-lying forward role behind centre-forward Darwin Núñez as the defending and record EFL Cup winners came from a goal behind to dispatch West Ham at Anfield this evening.
Jota netted twice in their 5-1 victory with Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo (brace) grabbing the other three. They were Jota’s first strikes since the Premier League’s opening weekend when he scored against newly promoted Ipswich away. The Porto native would retain the ‘number nine’ role until Bournemouth visited, with Núñez leading the line alongside Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz.
Díaz, whom many felt would make way for Cody Gakpo, bagged two goals with Núñez also finding the net. Díaz and Salah started on the bench against Julen Lopetegui’s struggling Hammers, with Federico Chiesa and Gakpo making up Liverpool’s attacking quartet with Jota and Núñez.
Tonight was Chiesa’s first start, having made a one-minute cameo against AC Milan and 19 more in the Bournemouth win. The former Juventus forward made way for Salah, with Jota also not completing an hour of action as Alexis Mac Allister came on, with Liverpool’s formation turning into a 4-3-3 from Klopp’s usual 4-2-3-1 shape.
Having uncharacteristically gone two matches in all competitions without a goal, Salah needed only 15 minutes to end his drought. Many felt Gakpo’s stellar display in Milan a week ago as a turning point, but he could not break into Liverpool’s starting lineup over the weekend.
Having played the full 90 minutes tonight, the Dutchman signed off with a goal, which he did in the dying minutes before immediately adding another. “This is Liverpool’s back up left winger,” Jamie Carragher noted on Sky Sports. “It just shows you the quality they have in reserve at this moment.”
Jamie Redknapp added: “There’s six good forwards at Liverpool that can change the game at any minute and that’s what you got.”
A nightmarish end for the Londoners who stunned the holders by taking the lead after a corner. Wataru Endo’s attempted clearance struck teammate Jarell Quansah and rolled over the line. But that lead lasted only four minutes, before Edson Alvarez was sent off for two bookings. For the hosts, though, it was an emphatic way to qualify for the Carabao Cup fourth round, where they’ll visit Brighton.
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