Liverpool boss Klopp launches passionate Roberto Firmino defence after Diogo Jota hattrick

Jurgen Klopp has jumped to the defence of Roberto Firmino after the Brazilian watched new boy Diogo Jota hit a Champions League hat-trick against Atalanta on Tuesday night. The Premier League champions ran riot in Bergamo and are now on the brink of qualification to the knockout stages after making it three wins from three in Europe.

Klopp decided to rest Firmino and reward Jota for his recent hot-streak after netting recent winners against Sheffield United and West Ham.

It was a decision that soon paid off as the Portuguese struck twice in the first half to put Liverpool 2-0 up at the break.

He then completed his hat-trick in impressive style to add a fifth after Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane also got in on the act.

Jota now looks set to keep his place in the side ahead of the trip to Manchester City on Sunday, despite limping off.

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“I would say the way Bobby Firmino is playing because on a good day he is not to defend. For us, it’s important that we have more than 11 and tonight Diogo used his shape in an incredible way and played a super, super game.

“But that says nothing about Bobby and has nothing to do with me causing headaches. I’m more than happy that the boys played like they played tonight.”

Firmino has scored just once this season but Klopp is clearly under no illusions that he remains a key player for the Reds.

Jota has now struck three hat-tricks in Europe in the past 10 months but this was in a league of its own as far as he was concerned.

“I’m playing in the best team of my career so far,” he told BT Sport.

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