Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Diogo Jota responds to Liverpool position change and fires message to Man City

Diogo Jota is happy to continue being Liverpool's jack-of-all-trades in attack - as he warned Manchester City will not be allowed to stroll to the Premier League title.

Jota started on the left wing for the first time in almost three months as the Reds earned a 3-0 home win over Brentford on Sunday.

It was his third different position in as many games, having played on the right against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup last Thursday and been down the middle for the 2-2 Premier League draw at Chelsea earlier in the month.

IAN DOYLE: Liverpool handed big midfield boost as surprise Fabinho bonus emerges

PAUL GORST: Liverpool find new guaranteed starter as 'solution' emerges for Jurgen Klopp

JURGEN KLOPP: What Liverpool boss did in dressing room at half-time as three situations highlighted

With Roberto Firmino having been hampered by injury, Jota has spent much of the campaign in a central role, from where he has scored the majority of his 12 goals in 26 appearances.

And the 25-year-old says he will continue to adapt to whatever is required by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.

"I always try to do what the manager asks me to do," said Jota. "At Wolves we sometimes played with three up front and I was on the left, because we had a proper main striker in Raul (Jimenez).

"When we played with two, I was up front. So it depends on what the manager asks me to do.

"I try to adapt and I think that's one of my main characteristics. I don't force anyone to adapt to me - I try to adapt to whatever is required and do my best.

"Maybe some people will say I'm not a proper false nine or I'm not a nine, whereas some others may like it. But whenever I'm on the pitch I aim to get goals and get the team reaching the opponent's goal. That's what I try to do."

*Leave your own Liverpool player ratings below:

Liverpool's win on Sunday ended a run of three Premier League games without a victory and moved them back up into second place above Chelsea.

And while they stand a mammoth 11 points adrift of leaders City - albeit with a game in hand - Jota is convinced the Reds can push Pep Guardiola's side all the way.

"At the moment City are already with a proper gap, let's say it like that, so it's up to us to try to close that gap," said the Portugal international to the official Liverpool matchday programme.

"Of course, in the league game at Chelsea we matched each other and if Manchester City were watching they would have been happy with that outcome as we both lost points. But we just have to keep going and try to close that advantage.

"It's not going to be easy, but we will be doing our very best so I think we will be able to take it until the very end of the season and I hope that's what happens."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.