Diogo Jota scores and Liverpool win thanks to loyalty to Luis Diaz

This Sunday, Portuguese striker Diogo Jota paved the way for Liverpool’s peaceful 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the English Football League, scoring against the absent Luis Dias, who had suffered personal drama.

The game was preceded by some very dark hours for the Reds as reports emerged that the Colombian international’s parents had been kidnapped (with his mother rescued by police), prompting coach Jurgen Klopp to drop the former Porto player from the squad.

“We had to make last minute changes due to Luis Diaz’s personal situation. It’s very worrying and it was a very difficult night. I have never encountered such a situation,” said the German coach.

The game was simplified by Diogo Jota’s goal from a quick pass that saw Salah feed Darwin Nunez, who fired a shot forward in defense and the Portuguese popped up on the rebound in the 32nd minute.

After the goal, the Portuguese international, along with his teammates, dedicated the goal to Luis Diaz by showing the Colombian’s jersey to the crowd at Anfield Road.

“Nottingham” did not have time to breathe, when a few minutes later Darwin, in a good collective movement, appeared in a small area and shot with a bang after Salah, again from the right, fed Soloshbay, who knocked the ball into the goal. Uruguayan, 35 years old.

In the second half, it was the Egyptian who took advantage of a quick transition and poorly timed entry from goalkeeper Matt Turner to make it 3-0 in the 77th minute.

Liverpool move up to third – ahead of the derby between United and City – and are three points behind leaders Tottenham and one behind second-placed Arsenal.

A similar scenario is with Aston Villa, who also moved up to fourth place after winning at home over Luton (3-1), but are waiting for the outcome of the game with City and when the points difference will be minimal.

Also in the afternoon, Marco Silva’s Fulham side (15th) were hoping for a fine goal from 65-year-old Portugal international Joao Palinha to salvage a point from their visit to Brighton (7th), who were winning from the 26th, with a goal from Ferguson.

Earlier, Everton (15th), with Joao Virginia on the bench and Shermiti in the dying minutes, beat West Ham (ninth) thanks to a Calvert-Lewin goal in the 51st minute.

The 10th round of the English Football League will end this Sunday with the derby between Manchester United and Manchester City, which will feature a large Portuguese presence at Old Trafford.