Andy Gray has made it clear that Diogo Jota will ‘never’ be on the level of Liverpool legend, Kenny Dalglish, as he told the Keys and Gray podcast.
Richards Keys questioned whether the ‘sensational’ Liverpool player is ‘the new Kenny Dalglish’ and Gray was having none of it, as he repeatedly told his co-host ‘no, no, no’.
You don’t get the name ‘King Kenny’ for nothing, and never mind going into Liverpool’s Greatest ever XI with ease, Dalglish might just be the club’s greatest ever player.
That is some feat for an English club that has won 19 top-flight titles, six European Cups and numerous other trophies during its rich and trophy-laden history.
But when Jota was compared with Dalglish, his former countryman, Gray, sent out a clear message to his co-host.
“I watched his two goals,” said Keys. “The first one in a position that you have told me down the years that Dalglish. The new Kenny Dalglish?
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,” Gray repeatedly said. “I am thinking, no, no, no.”
Keys added: “I want you to think about it. Under the wire, the second goal was typical Dalglish.”
“Maybe, I agree (he is sensational). But that’s a different statement. He is sensational. He has been a brilliant buy. I said before, I had no idea he had that ability in him when he was at Wolves.
“Kenny Dalglish is the best player I played alongside. With all the greatest will in the world, Diogo Jota is never going to be that.”
With Sadio Mane still recovering from his Africa Cup of Nations victory against Senegal and Mo Salah was only able to make the bench.
It was Jota who stepped up in midweek, as Jurgen Klopp’s side breezed past a Leicester team in free-for-all.
Whist Burnley may well be sitting bottom of the Premier League table, the Reds will be well aware of what awaits them in a few hours time.
There always seems to be difficulty when Liverpool play Burnley and Sunday afternoon might be no different.