LONDON: Diogo Jota is squeezing every moment out of his understudy role in the Liverpool attack.

After Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Brentford on Wednesday extended their advantage at the top, second-placed Liverpool needed to issue a response, edging in front in the first half at Anfield thanks to Jota’s close-range finish.

Jota was again on point this time with Mohammad Salah on the field for the final 30 minutes in a win that keeps second-place Liverpool nine points behind City with a game in hand. Liverpool are also in the race for Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

“He is really helpful for us,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said of Jota. “He was not a bargain, we did not get him for free. But it was obvious the potential was there, the work rate he puts in.”

This is the 18th goal for the Portuguese International in the league games since joining in 2020 for around $50 million from Wolverhampton.

The first against Leicester came in the 24th minute with a close-range strike by Jota after Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel parried Virgil Van Dijk’s header. The second from Portuguese in the 87th was a smart shot on the turn under Schmeichel.

Luis Diaz, who was handed his Premier League debut by Klopp after signing for Liverpool during the January transfer window, with the Colombian showing off his skills to get fans off their seats early on.

The win moved Liverpool onto 51 points from 23 games while Leicester’s poor season continued as they remain languishing down in 12th in the standings.

Liverpool, the only remaining Premier League side yet to lose on home soil this season, have now won 11 of their last 15 league games.

They still have a tough task catching City with 15 games to go.

ARSENAL FINALLY WIN

After 46 days, Arsenal were finally victorious again.

Gabriel poked in a goal in the 25th to clinch a 1-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers, although the Gunners had to hang on for a first win since Dec 26 with 10 men after another needless sending off.

Gabriel Martinelli was sent off for two yellow cards within seconds of each other making it Arsenal’s fourth dismissal in their last six games.

Martinelli first pulled Daniel Podence to stop a quick throw-in but referee played advantage. Martinelli then chased the ball down only to barge into Chinquinho from behind and was immediately shown two yellow cards.

“I’ve never seen that [Martinelli’s red]. I’ve been 18 years in this country and I’ve never seen something like it,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “I want expalnation about VAR and what happened tonight.”

Wolves could not take advantage, though, and lost ground on Arsenal, who climbed to fifth to improve their chances of a top-four finish and a return to the Champions League.

Wolves struggled to create clear chances and the closest they came to an equaliser

was when substitute Chiquinho’s effort was cleared off the line.

Podence was denied by a fine save by Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale but it was a disappointing night for Wolves who had been seeking a fourth successive league win.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2022