---
title: "Paul Merson full of praise for ‘absolutely brilliant’ Diogo Jota"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/paul-merson-full-of-praise-for-absolutely-brilliant-diogo-jota/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2021-11-28T08:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-11-28T08:00:00Z"
---

# Paul Merson full of praise for ‘absolutely brilliant’ Diogo Jota

[Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/11/25/pundit-left-in-awe-of-magnificent-thiago-goal-against-fc-porto/) forward [Diogo Jota](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/11/23/paul-robinson-believes-liverpool-will-enter-january-transfer-market/) was the man of the moment as the Reds swept aside Southampton at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

The 24-year-old [opened the scoring](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12477439/liverpool-4-0-southampton-free-scoring-liverpool-move-second-as-diogo-jota-scores-twice-in-thumping-win) inside the first two minutes as the hosts bombarded their South Coast visitors just as a swirling wind engulfed the Merseyside stadium in a similar fashion.

Jota found the net gain in the first half as a rampant home side ran out eventual [4-0 winners](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCOKLAR0jDc) in their L4 fortress.

Although it’s often Mohamed Salah taking the headlines, the Portuguese star is more than proving his worth with a remarkable [goal every 119 minutes](https://www.premierleague.com/players/19758/Diogo-Jota/stats?co=1&se=418) in the Premier League this term.

Speaking on [Sky Sports News (5:23pm, November 27, 2021)](https://www.skysports.com/football), former England midfielder Paul Merson was glowing in his praise.

> When he (Firmino) doesn’t play, Jota plays and he has literally settled quicker than snow, if I am being honest. He has been absolutely brilliant, and he has just carried that on.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also hailed the [22-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/diogo-jota/nationalmannschaft/spieler/340950/verein_id/3300) ace as [‘exceptional’](https://www.si.com/soccer/onefootball/video/2021/11/27/klopp-delighted-with-exceptional-jota) after the match.

So far this season Jota has [scored eight and provided two assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/diogo-jota/leistungsdaten/spieler/340950) in 16 appearances across all competitions.

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

Jota has been a revelation ever since arriving at Anfield.

Signed as a player with promise having [impressed](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/diogo-jota/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/340950) at Wolves, few could’ve predicted the impact the Portuguese forward has made.

Despite arriving [predominantly as a winger](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/diogo-jota/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/340950), much of Jota’s best work as a Red has come in central positions in place of Firmino.

Still some way short of the Brazilian in terms of an all-round package, when it comes to delivering in front of goal, the [£40.5million valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/diogo-jota/marktwertverlauf/spieler/340950) man has the edge.