The Premier League is home to a diverse group of players, including renowned superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah, and up-and-coming stars.
The spotlight is on Diogo Jota, Klopp's new Firmino, who is dragging the wild Liverpool. But don't overlook Reece James, Chelsea's crown jewel, who also scored against Juventus. Keep an eye on Toney (Brentford) too!
Diogo Jota
Photo: si.com
Jota began his career at Paços de Ferreira before joining Atlético Madrid in La Liga in 2016. After two seasons in the Primeira Liga, he was loaned to FC Porto of the Primeira Liga in 2016 and Wolverhampton Wanderers of the English EFL Championship in 2017.
For the first time since 2012, Jota assisted Wolves in gaining promotion to the Premier League. He then signed a permanent agreement with the club in July 2018 for an estimated €14 million and went on to make over 100 appearances for them. Jota joined Liverpool in September 2020 for a reported sum of €50 million (£41 million).
Jota was a Portugal youth international who played at the under-19, under-21, and under-23 levels. He was included in Portugal's roster for the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, which they won on home soil. He also made his senior international debut in November of the same year, playing for the national team at Euro 2020.
Reece James
Photo: goal.com
At 22, Reece James is expected to be a star in the upcoming future.
James joined the Chelsea academy as a teenager and made the step up to professional football in 2017, when he captained the under-18s to FA Youth Cup triumph and was awarded Academy Player of the Season.
Following a fruitful loan spell with Championship side Wigan Athletic, he was promoted to the Chelsea first squad upon his return in 2019, following which he established himself as a regular right-back fixture and earned a long-term contract extension in January 2020.
James was called up to the full international side for the first time in October 2020, gaining his first cap against Wales after representing England at various youth levels.
Ivan Toney
Photo: premierleague.com
Toney made his first-team debut for Northampton Town in 2012, he was the club's youngest player. He scored 13 goals in 60 games in all competitions before joining Newcastle United in 2015. The 25-year-old had two loan spells at Barnsley in his first season at Newcastle, winning the Football League Trophy and the League One play-offs. He spent the next two years on loan with Shrewsbury Town, Scunthorpe United, and Wigan Athletic in League One.
He joined Peterborough United for an undisclosed price in 2018, and in 2019–20, he was League One's top scorer and Player of the Season. He later joined Brentford, where he set the record for most goals scored in a Championship season, with 31 in the team's promotion to the Premier League in 2020–21.
