Diogo Jota equals Robbie Fowler goal record as Liverpool legend says: ‘He’s already eclipsed Minamino’

Liverpool legend Ray Houghton was full of praise for Diogo Jota as the Portuguese ace continuing his flying start with the Reds.

Jota has been a revelation at Anfield since his £45million arrival from Wolves, which is proving to be one of the signings of the summer.

And he made it nine goals in 14 games for the Reds with a fine effort against Brighton, although it wasn’t enough to secure the win as Jurgen Klopp’s men were frustrated on the south coast.

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Diogo Jota netted his ninth goal in 14 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool

After Neal Maupay missed an early penalty, Liverpool had a goal disallowed when Mo Salah was ruled offside by VAR.

Jota then linked up brilliantly with the Egyptian before firing in a low shot into the bottom corner to give the champions the lead, with Sadio Mane then having a lovely header also ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

Liverpool looked on their way to another three points, but VAR struck once again, with Brighton given an injury-time penalty after Danny Welbeck went down in the box after a touch of boots with Andy Robertson, which Pascal Gross fired home to steal a share of the points for the Seagulls.

So, a frustrating afternoon at the Amex for Klopp and his team, but they will at least be pleased with Jota’s fine scoring form as he found the net again – his eighth goal in his last eight games.

That meant he tied level with Anfield great Robbie Fowler, who now share the record of the fewest appearances [eight] for score their first five Premier League goals in a Liverpool shirt.

Fewest appearances to score first five Premier League goals for Liverpool:

Former Reds star Houghton was on commentary for talkSPORT for the Saturday lunchtime clash, and hailed Jota’s brilliant start.

And he also claimed the 23-year-old has already eclipsed teammate Takumi Minamino, who has struggled to make an impact since his £8million arrival from Red Bull Salzburg in January.

“Jota’s gone well ahead of him now,” said the two-time First Division winner with Liverpool.

“Jota’s little one-two with Salah, the movement and the finish, it was exquisite. The way he goes past defenders is incredible.”

Minamino has played in 18 of Liverpool’s last 25 games, and started against Brighton, but only three times had he played more than 45 minutes before his appearance against the Seagulls.

He still remains a peripheral figure in the team and has never been given a chance to get a run of games in one position.

“With Minamino, when you come into a team you’ve got to hit the ground running, so for an attacking playing like him that means either creating goals or scoring goals,” Houghton added.

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Minamino has three goals and one assist in 26 appearances since joining Liverpool in January

“If you haven’t done either, then that’s where the manager says I’ve got other player who can do that and is probably more affective, that’s why his time has been limited in a Liverpool shirt.

“Having watched him prior to coming here, I thought he was better playing a little bit higher up the field, whereas at the moment he’s been employed in a deeper role, he’s playing in a midfield three today.”