View: 6/10 Diogo Jota at risk of Liverpool axe, replacement raring to go
Arne Slot could look to axe Diogo Jota for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest on Saturday 14 September after a poor international outing with Portugal.
The 27-year-old endured a frustrating night in the 2-1 win against Scotland [8 September] and his performance didn’t fare too well in the media.
TNT Sports [8 September] gave him a 6/10 rating on the night, and Goal agreed with the rating [8 September], writing: “[He] Was wasteful with the chances he did get in the final third and was generally below his usual standards.”
Jota struggled in the 3-0 win against Manchester United heading into the international break and now could face losing his place in the starting line-up with teammate Darwin Nunez raring at the chance to impress Slot this season.
Diogo Jota needs to find his scoring boots for Liverpool
Liverpool have been in sensational form at the start of the Premier League season winning all three matches under Slot, with Jota starting every game as the spearhead of the attack.
The forward picked up one goal and one assist throughout that period but looked a shadow of his former self at Old Trafford and has seemingly taken that form into his international duties.
Slot surprised everyone with his selection of Jota for the Premier League opener against Ipswich Town and the decision paid off with club-record signing Nunez resigned to the bench.
However, the Uruguayan will feel his opportunity to impress the Dutchman is just around the corner and, the match against Nottingham Forest provides the perfect platform for the striker to displace his Liverpool teammate as the focal point of the attack.
Jota has had his fair share of injury concerns at Anfield and played second-fiddle to Nunez for most of last season under Klopp. If he wants to establish himself as the go-to man up top for Slot, he has to get among the goals and fast.
Luis Diaz has proven the doubters wrong with three goals and one assist this season and there will be no opportunity anytime soon for Jota to challenge in his second preferred position on the left.
The Portuguese forward is arguably the best out-and-out finisher in this Liverpool side but, unless he starts living up to that title, he is at serious risk of finding himself on the fringes if Nunez takes his opportunity with both hands.
In other Liverpool news, Barry Lewtas makes ‘unbelievable’ admission as Federico Chiesa joins Liverpool U21 training.
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