Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp may already have Sadio Mane's massive replacement.
The Reds fans are still reeling from the loss of a club legend in Sadio Mane, who left Liverpool after a six-year stay to join Bayern Munich.
Liverpool may have spent £80 million on a new forward in Uruguayan Darwin Nunez, but Sadio Mane's departure is no less painful.
During his six years in front of the Kop, the former Southampton man lit up Anfield. During that time, Mane established himself as one of the Premier League's most lethal big game players, scoring memorable goals both in the latter stages of the Champions League and against Liverpool's title rivals.
The 30-year-old had the wonderful trait of always appearing when his team needed him the most, such as his incredibly composed finish away at Bayern Munich or all of his goals against title rivals Manchester City.
It is one of many positive traits that Jurgen Klopp and his team will miss now that he is playing in Munich rather than Merseyside. They may not have to look far for another player who has a knack for contributing at crucial times.
Diogo Jota has gone about his business quietly since joining the club for £40 million from fellow Premier League club Wolves. While he doesn't seem to get as many headlines as Mane or even Mohamed Salah, his efforts are not unnoticed.
When it comes to the big game, the young Portuguese international has an incredible track record. Jota has scored at Old Trafford, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the Emirates since joining in 2020. With a hat-trick against Atalanta and goals against Atletico Madrid, the 25-year-old has a strong case for more starts.
But, now that Mane has left, securing his place in Klopp's starting eleven may not be as simple as pointing to his record against the teams around Liverpool. Nunez's arrival has created a clear first-choice Reds attacking trio that does not include Jota.
Signing in January Luis Diaz will play on the left wing, which he has claimed since arriving from Porto at the beginning of the year. Mohamed Salah's position on the opposite flank is as secure as anyone's, and it would make the most sense for the club-record signing to play through the middle.
In turn, Jota will have to use the chances he does get to play his way into the starting eleven to force Klopp's hand over the course of the season. The former Wolves star has an advantage over those ahead of him in that he is as versatile as they come.
Jota can be positioned anyplace along the front lines and perform admirably. That could be crucial to his chances of getting enough game time in the big games next season, but he'll have to earn his manager's trust first.
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