Diogo Jota has ‘pure instinct’ of a striker and is on the technical level of Liverpool’s stars, says Lijnders

Former Wolves forward netted his first goal for the Reds following his £45m move to Anfield

Liverpool signing Diogo Jota (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Diogo Jota has the talent and traits required to be a success at the highest level, says Liverpool’s assistant boss Pepijn Lijnders.

The Portuguese attacker has made only two substitute appearances since joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £45m but is already off the mark for his new side.

He scored the Reds’ third in the 3-1 win over Arsenal on Monday night in the Premier League and is expected to make his first start for his new club against the same side on Thursday, in the Carabao Cup.

Lijnders puts Jota on a par with Liverpool’s regular forwards and says he has the predatory “instinct” as the best goalscorers, a vital characteristic for any forward to reach the top.

“Diogo, for passionate players, for players who have goals in them, there is always space at Liverpool,”  Lijnders told the club’s website.

“[He has] a great desire to learn our game, he will add something.

"I said last week he is at the same level technically as our front three and the one thing I found really difficult to coach is the intuition in the box, being in the right position to score like the pure instinct of a striker - what we want from many players, of course, but especially from our front three.

“He, in 10 or 15 minutes, was three or four times in the position to score, so that’s really something that is good.” 

Liverpool scored seven times in the last round against Lincoln, with fellow forward Takumi Minamino impressing and scoring a brace.

Jurgen Klopp and his coaches will be looking for the pair to prove they can work well together and offer further competition for the regular starters, as Liverpool look to fight on all fronts this season.