Jamie Carragher sends a warning message to Sadio Mane, as well as Diogo Jota.

Jamie Carragher sends a warning message to Sadio Mane, as well as Diogo Jota

Diogo Jota began the season as one of Liverpool’s most vital players, but a warning from Jamie Carragher implies he is losing his battle for a starting spot.

Luis Diaz’s January signing has provided new competition for Jurgen Klopp’s attacking options, with the Colombian shining since his arrival.

Mane , Salah and Firmino are unavailable for this game (Photo by Getty Images)

Diaz has typically played on the left wing, with Mohamed Salah starting on the right.

That leaves Jota and Sadio Mane fighting for a spot in the middle, a battle the Senegalese international has been winning in recent weeks. When Liverpool faced Aston Villa on Tuesday, Jota was given the chance to start.

Salah was rested, with Diaz taking his place on the right, Mane in the middle, and Jota on the left. Diaz set up Mane’s goal to put the Reds up, while Jota had an average game.

And, with Mane’s ability to move positions with ease, Jota will have an issue moving forward. Carragher noted this issue after Mane’s adaptability was praised during the win over Villa.

“You’d always find a place in the front three for him [Mane]. When Diaz came in and he started so well, he wants to play on the left which is Mane’s position.

“Salah’s always going to play on the right, then he’s in a fight with Jota, who’s a scoring sensation since he’s come to Liverpool,” he told Sky Sports.

“I wouldn’t say he’s sacrificed himself but he initially came in on the right wing, then Salah came in and he moved to the left.

“He’s then fantastic on the left, Diaz came in on the left and he moved to centre-forward.

“He’s always moving for someone else, but his performances don’t drop. He’s still producing.

“The others are great players, but to ask those players in another position in the front three, they probably wouldn’t be at their best.

“But it doesn’t seem to matter where he plays in the front three it’s never a problem.”

In other news, Liverpool FC set to re-open Sadio Mane contract talks amid Barcelona & Bayern Munich transfer links