Really very difficult’ – Diogo Jota reveals problems of trust and indicates an important change for Liverpool
Liverpool’s Diogo Jota celebrates with Cody Gakpo after scoring the third goal in the Premier League match against Leeds United on April 17, 2023 (Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Diogo Jota admits he had a “very, very difficult” season.
Jota ended a 32-game winless run that lasted over a year when he scored Liverpool’s third goal in their 6-1 Premier League win against Leeds United shortly after the break on Monday night.
The Portuguese international then scored again after helping the Reds into a two-goal lead before the break with a fine run and an assist for Mohamed Salah’s goal.
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Jota has been sidelined twice in the last 12 months, first with a hamstring problem and then with a serious calf injury that cost him his World Cup place.
And when asked if such a long wait for the goal had affected his confidence, the striker admitted: “Yes, I think it’s been a while since last season too, I haven’t scored in the last few games. “This season is really, really tough, dealing with injuries. Now I’m trying to get that momentum and games like this will definitely contribute to that. It was a great feeling (to score). It’s clear that as a striker I want to score, not just assist, as I have done this season, and I hope I can continue this form. “It’s part of football, you always try to believe in yourself, but obviously when you get the goal, everything becomes easier in a player’s head. So we just have to make the most of the moment, because it’s very difficult to do that.”
Liverpool are still eighth in the Premier League, nine points behind the top four and narrow to secure at least European qualification given the impressive form of the likes of Aston Villa and Brighton.
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And Jota has urged Jurgen Klopp’s side to build on the momentum of their biggest ever win at Elland Road in the league against Leeds.
Speaking to liverpoolfc.com, he said: “I think we’ve had great results this season, great wins and we haven’t really followed that up. So hopefully we can run and win pretty much every game this time around. “We have to believe in it. Even if it’s possible, we have to believe in it. But we can only do that by winning matches. Certainly (Monday) it was a step in the right direction.”