Football: Klopp lauds ‘perfect signing’ Jota after Southampton win

LIVERPOOL (REUTERS) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp praised Diogo Jota after he scored twice in Saturday's 4-0 win over Southampton, describing the Portugal forward as the "perfect signing".

Jota scored the fastest Premier League goal this season when he found the net after 97 seconds and added another in the first half as Liverpool moved up to second place in the Premier League standings.

The 24-year-old has scored 21 goals in 46 appearances for Liverpool since joining them from fellow Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers in September 2020.

"Diogo, exceptional player, exceptional boy," Klopp told reporters on Saturday (Nov 27). "It was for us... a perfect signing because he has everything that a Liverpool player in this squad needs.

"He has the technical skills, the physical skills, and he is very smart and can learn all the tactical stuff pretty quick."

The versatile Jota was out for three months last season due to a knee injury but has still impressed Klopp with his performance so far.

"He has the speed, the desire to finish situations off really good," Klopp said. "I think his goal-scoring record is pretty impressive if I'm right.

"Unfortunately, he had a big injury last year and that is then never helpful. But he is back, thank God, and fits really well in this team. I'm really happy for him."

Klopp's team, who won the Premier League in 2020, have now scored 39 goals in 13 league games this season, nine more than Chelsea, who host Manchester United on Sunday.

Klopp reverted to his strongest line-up for the visit of Ralph Hasenhuttl's Southampton after they beat Porto 2-0 in midweek and was rewarded with a goal within two minutes.

Andy Robertson combined well with Sadio Mane down the left and got to the byline to pull back for Jota, who scored from close range.

Mane had the ball in the net again after he was fouled by Jan Bednarek - the Senegalese forward headed home the resulting Robertson free-kick - but the flag went up for offside.

Mohamed Salah went close but Southampton themselves had a good chance to equalise when Armando Broja failed to beat goalkeeper Alisson Becker after seizing on a careless Liverpool throw.

Jota doubled his tally in the 32nd minute after Southampton were cut open down their right side.

Salah collected a clever return pass from Jordan Henderson to slide a low cross to Jota, who tapped home from close range.

Midfielder Thiago made it two goals in as many games with a deflected shot eight minutes before half-time to virtually seal the three points for Liverpool.

The free-scoring home side picked up where they had left off after the break when Virgil van Dijk scored against his former club, squeezing a low volley home after a corner from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool, who play Everton in the Merseyside derby in midweek, now have 28 points after 13 games following their eighth win of the season.