Diogo Jota took his tally to 6 objectives in 10 days with a Champions League hat-trick as Liverpool hammered Atalanta 5-Zero to place themselves inside touching distance of the knockout phases already.

The Portugal worldwide’s latest scoring spree persuaded Jurgen Klopp to begin him forward of Roberto Firmino in Bergamo and he totally justified the supervisor’s determination with solely the membership’s fourth European treble away from Anfield.

He’s in elevated firm as Michael Owen (two) and Sadio Mane scored the others and what he has achieved already since his transfer from Wolves in mid-September suggests there could possibly be extra to come back.

Jota, who might have had a first-half hat-trick however squandered probably his best likelihood within the second minute, has now scored for a fourth successive match.

He’s solely the second man to seek out the online in his first two Champions League appearances for the membership, after Robbie Keane in 2008, and already has extra objectives for the membership in 2020 (seven) than Firmino (5) regardless of having arrived lower than two months in the past.

Lastly Klopp has somebody to not solely problem his established entrance three of Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Mane – the latter pair additionally each scoring inside a few minutes of one another initially of the second half – however to enhance the much-vaunted unit and his £41million switch already seems to be good worth.

Jota’s spectacular efficiency allowed Liverpool to win their opening three group matches for the primary time they usually have already established a five-point lead on the midway stage with two house matches to come back subsequent.

Early qualification could be a serious increase for Klopp on this most congested of seasons as it might give him the prospect to supply some much-needed respite to his main gamers.

With Manchester Metropolis up subsequent within the Premier League on Sunday he even took the chance right here, eradicating Jota, who sparked an harm scare by hobbling off, Andy Robertson and Jordan Henderson from the fray with 25 minutes to go and later resting Trent Alexander-Arnold and Georginio Wijnaldum – all more likely to be key figures on the Etihad Stadium.

Joel Matip returned to the squad after a four-match absence however Klopp opted at hand 19-year-old Rhys Williams – who a yr in the past was enjoying for Kidderminster towards Curzon Ashton in Nationwide League North – his full Champions League debut at centre-back with Joe Gomez towards a aspect that includes eight gamers who reached final season’s quarter-finals.

It was the 36th totally different central defensive partnership Klopp has began throughout his 5 years on the membership however there have been no considerations in defence, even towards a aspect who scored 98 objectives in Serie A final season, with Jota operating the hosts ragged on the different finish.

Having shot too near Marco Sportiello in solely the second minute Jota didn’t make the identical mistake twice within the 16th minute, dinking a shot previous the goalkeeper after blindsiding Jose Luis Palomino chasing Alexander-Arnold’s through-ball.

Mane and Curtis Jones had already been denied by Sportiello however he was no match for Jota within the 33rd minute when Gomez picked out his team-mate with an extended diagonal ball.

The primary contact along with his left foot introduced the ball inside onto his proper and he dispatched a shot inside Sportiello’s right-hand submit, prompting Klopp to bellow “What a end, Diogo” from the technical space.

Mane noticed his goalbound shot tipped across the submit however two objectives inside 4 minutes of the beginning of the second half killed the hosts’ comeback hopes.

Salah’s half-pitch run to attain from Jones’ go when an Atalanta nook broke down was harking back to the one he scored towards Arsenal in August 2019 and his 22nd European aim in 38 appearances drew him degree with Owen within the membership’s all-time checklist – solely Steven Gerrard (41) has extra.

Salah then turned supplier for Mane to chip over Sportiello however Jota was in no temper to see his limelight stolen and ran onto Mane’s go to spherical Sportiello and roll a shot into an empty web.

Duvan Zapata hit the within of the submit and compelled Alisson Becker into two good saves however that type of attacking menace was wanted within the first half because the rookie Williams and Gomez had an unexpectedly comfy evening.