Jota named as Klopp's best ever Liverpool signing kicking off fierce debate

It was very much business as usual for Liverpool against Leicester on Thursday night, and right now that means goals for Diogo Jota.

The Portuguese took his tally to 17 for the season with a brace against the Foxes, and his goals led to lofty praise from BT Sport co-commentator Glenn Hoddle, who declared the Portuguese as Liverpool's best ever signing under Jurgen Klopp.

The under-the-radar £41million deal to bring in Jota from Wolves in September 2020 does indeed look all the more inspired with each passing game, with the forward now just the ninth player in Liverpool's history to score 30 goals in his first 60 appearances for the club.

But is he really Klopp's best ever purchase?

With the likes of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson all tasting Champions League and Premier League glory under the German, the competition is fierce.

We asked some of the Mirror Football team who they'd pick, while you can vote for your choice in the survey near the foot of the article.

Josh O'Brien - Virgil van Dijk

While Jota has been unbelievable, I think it has to be Van Dijk.

The likes of Salah and Mane will obviously get the headlines but since joining Liverpool there is a real argument to be made that Van Dijk is the best central defender in Premier League history - let alone Klopp's best signing.

The word 'transformative' is thrown around a lot nowadays when it comes to new signings, but few have genuinely changed a club's fortunes quite like Van Dijk has Liverpool's, with three finals reached along with one Champions League and a first league title in three decades all since he joined.

Perhaps the most obvious testament to his brilliance is the fact that Liverpool's 2020/21 season derailed without him and since his return they have looked much closer to being back to their best.

Tom Victor - Alisson

There are plenty of contenders, but in terms of the player who was most important in taking Liverpool to the next level, Alisson just edges it.

Look at Liverpool's woes before the Brazilian arrived from Roma. And then consider how the goalkeeper position is rarely even discussed when Alisson is between the sticks.

His arrival has ensured the idea of a team paying top dollar for a keeper is just the norm now, and he has helped Liverpool realise it's possible to find bargains but it's not possible to cut corners.

Oh, and that header against West Brom was pretty good, I suppose.

Tom Blow - Mohamed Salah

In this instance, the obvious answer is the right answer. Salah has been superb for Liverpool since his arrival in the summer of 2017, scoring 148 goals in all competitions.

It's hard to remember a time when the Egyptian King hasn't delivered for the Reds. He's a constant threat up front and isn't just a great goalscorer, but a scorer of great goals.

And to think, he cost just £36.7million from Roma. What a bargain! Salah, without a shadow of a doubt, will be the defining player of the Klopp era.

The only signing that could surpass his initial contract is an extension, with talks continuing between the two parties.

To quote Rio Ferdinand : Liverpool may not thank me, but get the contract out, put it on the table, let Salah write whatever numbers he wants to put on there... and you know how the rest goes.

Freddie Keighley - Fabinho

Two days after their heartbreaking defeat in the 2018 Champions League final, Liverpool announced the signing that would convert them from nearly men to conquerors.

Fabinho was unveiled in a surprise £39million transfer from Monaco, and the Brazilian proved to be the final cog required to propel the Reds to heights they had not reached for decades.

The dominant defensive midfielder has established himself as one Europe's best in his position and was indispensable during the Champions League redemption story of 2019 and drought-ending Premier League triumph the following year.

Aged 28, Fabinho is still improving and is enjoying his most fruitful season at Anfield with five goals in 26 appearances.

Ricky Charlesworth - Virgil van Dijk

Many may have raised eyebrows at the decision to fork out £75million on Van Dijk, especially mid-season.

But if anything he's proved to be a bargain. He offers real leadership, has a cool manner about him and is the lynchpin of this Liverpool side.

Yes, Salah and Mane will take the plaudits most of the time, but the Dutchman has a presence about him that allows others to express themselves.

He's still only 30 and you can see him being at Anfield for plenty more years to come. A true Rolls Royce of a player and one that, like the luxury motor, gets better with age.

Darren Wells - Mohamed Salah

Yes, it's the obvious one, but the signing of Salah arguably doesn't get as much praise as it should do.

Liverpool's acquisitions of Alisson, Van Dijk and Fabinho have often reaped the plaudits for taking Klopp's side to the next level - all of which is true - and if you're going for value for money, Andy Robertson at £8m takes some beating.

But without Salah, none of Liverpool's recent success happens.

He has consistently performed at a high level since arriving from Roma, starting with that scintillating first season to now, where he is one of the best players in world football, if not the best on current form.

Salah would walk into any team in Europe - the kind of player Liverpool have had only a handful of in the Premier League era.

It was a slight gamble paying £36.7m for a player who had already flopped once in the Premier League.

Now it looks an absolute bargain.

Thomas Bristow - Virgil van Dijk

It's a tough list to choose from.

Manchester United fans will look on green in envy when seeing Jurgen Klopp has brought in the likes of Mane, Wijnaldum, Salah, Robertson, Alisson and Jota.

But for me you cannot look past Van Dijk.

Liverpool were close to achieving big things before, but the Dutchman's arrival took them over that threshold. A Champions League soon followed, as did a long-awaited Premier League title.

He is a phenomenal player and, in my opinion, Klopp's best signing.

Mark Jones - Sadio Mane

In truth the answer to this question is that there is no right answer.

Liverpool have done some remarkable transfer business under Klopp, with the soon to be departing Michael Edwards proving to be a master of getting favourable deals done for both incomings and outgoings.

It all had to start somewhere though.

In the summer of 2016 the Reds didn't have any European football to look forward to in Klopp's first full season, and they were still licking their wounds from losing the Europa League final.

Who do you think is Klopp's best ever Liverpool signing? Vote in our poll!

New signings were needed to press home the way that the manager wanted to play, but when £34m was spent on the slightly erratic Southampton winger Mane there was plenty of criticism and suggestions that Liverpool weren't signing the right player.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was the man pined for at the time, but after he went to Manchester United it was Mane who ended up at Liverpool.

Playing on the right hand side, the Senegalese evolved over his first season with the Reds and played a large part in getting them into the Champions League.

The stage was set for everything that has come since, including those great signings above.