Diogo Jota becomes new member of the 'Fab Four' at Liverpool

Portuguese summer signing formed attacking quartet against Sheffield United alongside Salah, Mane and Firmino

Diogo Jota, left, celebrates scoring their second goal in Liverpool's 2-1 win against Sheffield United on Sunday, October 24, with Roberto Firmino, right. Reuters

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino scores their first goal against Sheffield United at Anfield. Reuters

Mohamed Salah celebrates a goal against Sheffield United, which was later disallowed. Getty

Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates with teammate Sadio Mane after scoring. EPA

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores against the Blades only for it to be ruled out by VAR for offside. AFP

Liverpool's Diogo Jota, left heads home against Sheffield United. AP

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah with Roberto Firmino. EPA

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is challenged by Enda Stevens of Sheffield United. Reuters

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. PA

Diogo Jota scores for Liverpool. AFP

Diogo Jota has already made a solid claim to become part of a new Liverpool 'Fab Four' just five weeks after arriving at Anfield.

The Portugal international is averaging a goal every other Premier League game after his header in the 2-1 win over Sheffield United made it two in four since a £45 million ($58.7m) deal brought him to the club from Wolves last month.

He was deployed as the right-sided forward in a 4-2-3-1 system as Jurgen Klopp fielded all his main attackers together for the first time.

It conjured up memories of the manager's original 'Fab Four' when Philippe Coutinho played alongside Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane before he joined Barcelona.

"It is not too much about what he's brought in the team. He is a good player, that's why we signed him," said Klopp.

"The player he is: he is quick, he has the physicality, he is strong, he is good in the air, he is good on the ground ... a lot of good things.

"He has exactly the quality we need, so that helps a lot.

"Yes, Diogo scored a super goal and was really involved in the game. He can be much better, 100 per cent, and that's good news."

The changed formation meant Salah was pushed into a central striking role with Firmino, their other goalscorer on the night, behind him and Mane in his usual left-wing position.

Klopp insists he did not change his tactics in order to shoehorn Jota into the team but that it was a reflection of the depth of options he had at his disposal.

"It was a game where all four played up front together [but] it was not so much about getting Diogo on the pitch because he can play a lot of positions in our usual formation," said the manager.

"It gives us an extra option. It brought Mo in a different position, where I have to say he played an incredible game.

Philippe Coutinho, right, was an original member of Liverpool's attacking Fab Four, alongside Mane, left, Salah and Firmino

"Mo and Sadio didn't score but played outstanding. Sadio was, in the one-on-one situations, pretty much undefendable. Mo between the lines, sensational.

"And you know how good [Xherdan] Shaqiri was in Amsterdam [in the Champions League win over Ajax] and he is close; Taki [Takumi Minamino] is very close and so all these things help.

"This is the area where we have in the moment options and long may it stay like this."

The success of that front-four combination helped turn around a game in which Sheffield United took the lead from a 13th-minute Sander Berge penalty after VAR had upgraded a Fabinho challenge on the edge of the area from a free-kick to a penalty.

Klopp disputed whether the tackle was even a foul, ignoring the margin for error on the millimetres involved for video assistant Andre Marriner to decide it was inside the area.

Firmino tapped home the equaliser just before half-time after Mane's header was parried and Jota rose highest in the 64th minute to nod home the Senegal international's cross.

It extended Liverpool's unbeaten home league run to 62 matches, one short of equalling the club record between 1978 and 1981.

They had to do it this time without injured defensive talisman Virgil van Dijk and at the end of a demanding week in which they drew 2-2 at Everton and ground out a 1-0 win over Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League.

"A tough week obviously – a lot of games, a lot of minutes, tough opponents, hard-fighting opponents," Klopp said.

"[We] won the two matches after the Merseyside derby, so really pleased with that, obviously.

"We didn't score [the third goal] so the game stayed open and they had their moments, but we defended well with a big heart. And so I liked it."

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Gallery: Everton 2 Liverpool 2

Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin heads home to makes the score 2-2 against Liverpool at Goodison Park. Reuters

Liverpool striker Sadio Mane celebrates scoring after just three minutes. AFP

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. PA

Liverpool Mohamed Salah shoots on goal. Getty

Michael Keane celebrates scoring for Everton. AFP

Everton defender Michael Keane heads home for Everton. AFP

Everton's Michael Keane heads home to make the score 1-1. AFP

Mohamed Salah celebrates putting Liverpool 2-1 up. EPA

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and his Everton counterpart Carlo Ancelotti share a joke at Goodison Park. Reuters

Liverpool's Sadio Mane. EPA

Everton's Michael Keane celebrates with teammates after scoring. AFP

Everton's Richarlison is shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver for his challenge on Thiago Alcantara. Reuters

Jordan Henderson celebrates after scoring what he thought was a last-gasp winner for Liverpool, only for VAR to rule it out. Reuters

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is tackled by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the first half - a challenge that resulted in the Dutch defender being forced off injured. AP

Liverpool's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring. PA

Virgil van Dijk after being forced off injured in the first half. EPA

Everton manager Carlo Ancelott. AFP