Diogo Jota paid tribute to Andy Robertson for his underappreciated role in helping to score Liverpool ’s 94th-minute winner against Tottenham on Sunday.
Jota slotted into the bottom corner just seconds after Richarlison appeared to have earned Spurs a point at the other end in a dramatic 4-3 win. Liverpool raced into a 3-0 lead at Anfield inside the first 15 minutes thanks to goals from Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah before Tottenham fought back.
Harry Kane pulled one back and Son Heung-min tucked in another before Richarlison got his head to a free-kick to make it 3-3 in the 93rd minute. Not to be outdone, Jota read a poor back-pass from Lucas Moura before putting an accurate finish beyond Fraser Forster.
The winner sparked delirious celebrations in Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp pulling his hamstring after hurtling down the touchline to celebrate in front of the fourth official following what he perceived to be injustices dished out by referee Paul Tierney.
Amid all the excitement, Jota was quick to thank Robertson, who had given him a key piece of advice after Richarlison’s goal. He told the club website : “I remember Robbo telling me to go on because we normally play that long ball – to go on and believe, and you could feel that was already a good sign.
“We did that, we won the second ball, we played back, we played again in behind and I could intercept a pass and score the winner. It was amazing.”
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On his finish, he added: “It doesn’t require too much thinking. I think the moment there that I believed I could intercept was key because I started running in behind and I saw their full-back could pass the ball back.
“That was the key moment for me and then it was just, ‘Make sure you control it right and you hit the target,’ and hopefully it’s in – and it was!”
Jota came on as a 63rd-minute substitute for Diaz but was perhaps fortunate to remain on the pitch to score the winner. He was shown a yellow card for a high boot on Oliver Skipp, despite Spurs calling for a straight red after blood was drawn from the midfielder’s forehead.
"Honestly, it's probably the clearest red card you will see on the football pitch,” Tottenham interim boss Ryan Mason said. "I need an explanation. It endangered the opponent, Skipp needs stitches and Jota has scored the goal when he shouldn't be on the pitch."
Jota has provided some telling contributions for Liverpool recently, having scored twice in wins over Leeds and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League since returning from injury. His goal on Sunday saw the Reds overtake Spurs and move into fifth place on the back of their fourth straight win.
