Diogo Jota rescued Liverpool after making an immediate impact against Nottingham Forest, breaking a club record in the process.
The Portuguese had scored four goals in as many games against Forest leading up to Tuesday’s game but had to sit on the bench.
With Liverpool struggling midway through the second half, Jota came on to save the game and he performed resolutely.
Just 22 seconds after coming on, the 28-year-old headed home Kostas Tsimikas’ corner to give Liverpool a point.
Jota was soon denied twice by Matz Sels, winning with the greatest impact of any player. This is Anfield‘s Man of the Match award.
In fact, the 20 headed goal is the fastest goal by a Liverpool substitute since Premier League records began in 2006/07 – Daniel Sturridge’s 24 seconds against West Ham in August 2018, according to statistician Ged Rea (@ged0407). I broke the goal.
Jota, 12, is now joint-fifth on the Reds’ bench top scorers, tied with Ryan Babel and Divock Origi.
The only players ahead of him are Sturridge (13), Mohamed Salah (14), Roberto Firmino (16), and David Fairclough (18).
The fastest goal by a substitute in the Premier League was Newcastle’s Sammy Ameobi, who took just eight seconds to score from the bench against Tottenham in 2014/15.
Is it time to draft more Jota?
Jota may be an outstanding impact substitute, but now that he is fully fit and attacking, he should lead Liverpool’s line in the second half of the season.
Of course, he is a player who needs to be managed carefully given his injury history over the years, but he is arguably the Reds’ most ruthless finisher.
Luis Diaz has had a good season, shining at times as a false nine, but he is an experiment whose flaws are starting to show against the low block.
In Jota, Liverpool have a fighter who can deliver when it matters and he could be a massive player between now and the end of the season.
Arne Slot will certainly consider inserting him into the starting XI for Saturday afternoon’s game at Brentford. This game has the potential to be another close away game.
Not to be too harsh on Diaz, who has been impressive overall, but it seems like the right time to make a change to the attack.
