Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez combine for 33 points against Bournemouth with former owned by just 7% of Dream Team gaffers

WHO needs Mohamed Salah (£6.7m)?

It took a long while for Liverpool to stamp their authority on Gameweek 20 but it was worth the wait.

Dream Team managers everywhere were dealt a timely reminder that the Reds are so much more than a one-man team as Diogo Jota (£3.9m) and Darwin Nunez (£4.2m) inspired them to a 4-0 win away to Bournemouth.

Dream Team

Jota flourished on the south coast[/caption]

In the absence of the Egyptian superstar, who remains Dream Team’s overall top scorer, two of Jurgen Klopp’s other forwards stepped up with a brace each.

The Portugal international was the star of the show, as evidenced by his 18-point return.

Jota played through the middle and from the right during the course of his 89 minutes on the pitch and gave the Cherries all manner of problems.

The 27-year-old scored twice, provided an assist (which was also a big chance created) and chipped in with three tackles to claim his biggest haul of the campaign.

AFP

Nunez was at his best at the weekend[/caption]

Nunez’s ownership has increased steadily across the last fortnight and he was a relatively popular captain for this Gameweek too.

Liverpool’s No9 satisfied his backers with a 15-point return free of the frustrating misses that often undermine his efforts.

Prior to his departure to the Africa Cup of Nations, Salah appeared in most competitive Dream Teams but Jota currently features in just 7.2% of teams.

Nunez is considerably more popular but his ownership of 24.3% is still less than half of Salah’s pre-AFCON peak.

Klopp’s side remain a fantastic team for gaffers to back despite their top scorer’s absence and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s (£5.7m) injury setback.

There’s still time for their assets to build upon their Gameweek 20 tallies thanks to Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Fulham.

PA

Liverpool assets are providing plentiful points this season[/caption]

Looking forward, Gameweek 21 looks appealing as well.

Liverpool host Norwich in the FA Cup fourth round before welcoming Chelsea to Merseyside for a midweek Premier League encounter.

A double header at Anfield has to be considered a favourable prospect given the Reds’ record this season – they’ve won all but two games (both draws) on home soil in all competitions.

And they average 2.94 goals per home game in 2023/24.

As for the specific forwards, Jota averages a goal or assist every 84 minutes this season while Nunez lags behind only a fraction behind with a goal involvement every 88 minutes.

All signs point toward further returns for Jota and Nunez but how many Dream Team bosses will feel comfortable donating two thirds of their forward line to assets who may only be short-term punts.

The landscape will change when both Salah and Erling Haaland (£7.9m) are available for selection again.

---