Mo Salah, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz all scored as Liverpool’s top three defeated German Bundesliga team SV Darmstadt to close off their preseason in fine fashion.

The team that Jurgen Klopp’s club fielded on Saturday might have started Sunday’s Premier League opener against Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge.

Because Curtis Jones wasn’t healthy enough to play, Alexis Mac Allister filled in as the holding midfielder.

Although Liverpool’s defense will continue to draw criticism, their attacking play was successful, and Klopp’s team got a terrific workout.

Due to stadium renovations at Anfield, Mail Sport attended the game at Preston’s Deepdale. Here are five things we discovered.

Red-hot Jota on fine form

With a goal here to cap off a strong preseason for the Portuguese player, Diogo Jota, Liverpool may have had their star player.

Jota was sidelined for significant portions of the previous season due to a few protracted injuries, but he will be essential to the team this upcoming season.

During the Singapore tour, he started both games on the left wing but played the majority of the game as the No. 9, with Mo Salah and Luis Diaz on either side of him.

And Jota found the trip to be enjoyable. The 26-year-old took the initiative to push and was at the center of every Liverpool attack with his intricate link-up play and deft off-the-ball movements to open up space for teammates.

He will almost certainly start when Liverpool takes on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to kick off their Premier League campaign, and Klopp’s team will be likening his return to full fitness to the acquisition of a new player.

Diaz has point to prove

After a season marred by injuries the previous year, Diaz entered this preseason like Jota with much to prove. And it appears that Diaz’s future at Anfield will be significantly shaped by this upcoming season.

Diaz is a brilliant ball handler and can easily evade two or three opponents, but the Colombian still seems to lack in the finishing department.

He may be a devastating player for Klopp if he can add goals and assists to his overall compelling attacking play this season.

However, this was a very solid performance, and Diaz scored following a furious corner from Dominik Szoboszlai. Diaz may have added more as he kept placing himself in risky situations.

Midfield travails

Lack of midfielders for Liverpool has been a recurring topic this summer with the unforeseen departures of former captain Jordan Henderson and fellow seasoned professional Fabinho.

After three bids for Southampton’s Romeo Lavia were rejected, fans complained that they were without a No. 6 midfielder. Curtis Jones filled the holding position in both friendlies during the Singapore tour.

However, Jones was unable to begin this game after suffering a minor injury; as a result, Alexis Mac Allister took the field in the deep lying position.

The Argentine, an offensive midfielder by trade, did little incorrectly and controlled play from deep, but Reds supporters should be alarmed to see how lean they appear on the eve of the league season.

Gakpo’s versatility crucial

Cody Gakpo and Szoboszlai both played in midfield, and Klopp is reported to adore the Dutchman’s versatility because it allows him to play on both sides, as a central striker, and in a deeper position.

Last week, he told Mail Sport that he didn’t care where he played as long as he was on the field, but now that he is more versatile, his argument for starting games is stronger.

Gakpo performed admirably in this game, scoring on a number of scorching deep runs. It appears that his deeper position allows him to play with more effect.

Doak is a star in the making

Ben Doak, a young Scottish winger, has been by far the standout among the numerous young players that Klopp has given playing time to the preseason.

Doak came on again here and caused a slew of issues for Darmstadt’s defense after scoring against Leicester and impressing with a lightning-quick cameo against Bayern Munich in Singapore.

After Salah took a break in the second half, the 17-year-old played on the right wing in Salah’s place and displayed his natural eagerness to rush at defenders with quick, deft darts into the area. He could have added an assist if he had finished more effectively.

Doak will anticipate playing time on Thursday evenings with Liverpool participating in the Europa League this season, as Klopp is reluctant to risk his star players.

Doak has had some growth after joining from Celtic for just £600,000 a year ago, but based on his preseason performances, this is just the beginning.