Wolves defender Conor Coady has admitted Diogo Jota's success at Liverpool has come as no surprise to him.
The pair spent three seasons in the same side at Molineux between 2017 and 2020, until the Portuguese forward made the move to join the Reds as part of a part-exchange deal involving Ki-Jana Hoever. Since signing for the Reds, Jota has been a great success and continues to go from strength to strength within the side.
He found the back of the net 13 times in 30 appearances during his maiden campaign with the club, a tally he has bettered this term having scored his 21st goal of the season in all competitions in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
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It has not taken the 25-year-old long to adapt to the system utilised by Jurgen Klopp, though Coady expected no less of the Portugal international. Discussing the impact of the former team-mate on Premier League Productions, the former Liverpool Academy graduate said: "I knew when he [Jota] moved to Liverpool, a lot of people were asking me 'How's he going to be? What is he going to be like?'
“The biggest thing I can say about him is his mentality to do well. That's how I always knew he was going to be a success at Liverpool. He wants to win, wants to score goals and wants to be in the box and win headers. He is incredibly good in the air for a little fella."
It was Jota who got the Reds back into the game at the Etihad during the first half, courtesy of a composed finish past Ederson. This finish in the final third was the perfect example of what the versatile forward offers to this Liverpool team, as well as his expert ability to judge situations.
"He is so, so intelligent with his movement and he never switches off," said Coady. "You see with this goal, the play before is fantastic. But he makes the first run, now he is offside, then he makes sure he gets himself back onside and just stands still. It’s intelligence, and then the ball goes underneath Ederson.
“His movement to go in, not getting the ball, then to come out and switch on again was absolutely fantastic. It was a great goal.”
