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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Sam Meade

Diogo Jota opens up on Liverpool role after he comes off the bench to bag Reds' winner

Diogo Jota is prepared to put the team first after coming off the bench to grab Liverpool's winner against West Ham.

The Portuguese star was a £40m signing from Wolves in the summer but comes into a team who have a wealth of attacking talent.

It has meant Jota has had to settle for cameo roles at times which he is content to do if it serves the team's needs.

He and fellow sub Xherdan Shaqiri combined to score with five minutes remaining and Jota admits he is always looking for ways to impact the game.

He said: "The goal means a lot. Seeing the game on the bench, I’m always thinking about what I can do to change things.

"The most important thing was the win, we just want to keep winning games. With so many games you have to keep moving. Fortunately in the end I got the space. It was a great pass from Shaq.

"I played two games in the starting 11 before this one. It’s a team. The manager chooses the 11, we need to do our job."

Jota's goal was his third in as many Premier League games at Anfield.

It means he becomes the first Liverpool player since Luis Garcia in 2004 to score in his first three home outings after notching against Arsenal and Sheffield United.

His winner came after Mohamed Salah had equalised from the spot just before half-time.

Pablo Fornals gave the Hammers an early lead when his shot beat Alisson.  

The three points keeps Liverpool on top of the pile, although a win for Everton at Newcastle on Sunday will see them leapfrog their Merseyside rivals.

Where will Liverpool finish this season? Have your say here.

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