Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp reacts to 5-0 win over Atalanta
Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino will be sweating over his place in the starting eleven at the Premier League champions after Diogo Jota’s hat-trick against Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday night, Michael Owen and Peter Crouch believe.
Jota had an incredible outing in Italy as he grabbed his first hat-trick for the Reds against Atalanta.
The new signing, who joined from £41.5million from Wolves in the summer, pounced twice in the first half of the match to give Liverpool a 2-0 lead going into the break.
He then got his third of the match in the second half, rounding Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello to slot home.
This was Jota’s second start in the competition, having played and scored against FC Midtjylland last week.
Liverpool ace Firmino will be worried by ‘special’ Diogo Jota after Atalanta hat-trick (Image: GETTY)
He has now bagged seven goals in 10 appearances across all competitions, having made an electric start to life at Anfield.
Jota was signed primarily to act as a back-up to Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, but he is now staking his claim for a place in the starting XI.
And Crouch believes Firmino will now be worried over his place in the front three due to the ability of Jota, while Owen described the 23-year-old as a “special” player.
Speaking at half-time on BT Sport’s coverage of the match, the former Reds strikers heaped praise on the Portuguese.
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Liverpool ace Firmino will be worried by ‘special’ Diogo Jota after Atalanta hat-trick (Image: GETTY)