Liverpool just saw exactly what it needed from Diogo Jota as Jürgen Klopp gets season-changing boost

Portuguese striker Diogo Jota was a staple of Jurgen Klopp during his three years on Merseyside and will soon be back in charge of Liverpool’s fortunes.

Given the relief and excitement that followed Diogo Jota’s return to full fitness last month, it would be fair to say he is held in high regard by Liverpool supporters. With the Reds aiming for a place in the Premier League top four next May, the return of the Portuguese striker could not have been better timed.

The popular striker has been a revelation in his first two seasons at Anfield. His relentless dedication was to scoring – he scored 34 goals in 85 games – and endearing himself to the Kop in the process. However, this season has been a more frustrating affair for the Portuguese forward as back-to-back injuries have hampered his impact so far. The Anfield favorite has been limited to just 13 appearances in all competitions and hasn’t found a net so far this season. In fact, he’s currently in the midst of a poor career that dates back to last April and has now made 26 appearances, including 13 starts, in all competitions without a goal (though he’s still provided 10 assists in that time. ).

Of course, the stats don’t quite tell the story and Jota’s struggles this season have been downright unfortunate as the $53m (£45m/€50m) striker has been knocked down with a hamstring problem in front of him last season was cruelly ruled. again in October’s 1-0 win over Manchester City, having returned to action a month earlier.

Jota spent the next four months on the sidelines, watching helplessly as his teammates had a blistering ride after returning from the World Championship and waited until mid-February for their first victory of 2023.

The combination of Van Dijk and Konaté kept Wolves in check in the Reds’ final game of the week, with Jota’s tireless performance at the other end of the pitch undoubtedly making a significant difference. During his 76 minutes on the pitch, he not only pressed relentlessly, but also set up Van Dijk with a careful formation after a save from José Sá.

Previously, Jota had also single-handedly created an opening for Darwin Núñez after entering the box, with the Uruguayan only ruling for referee Paul Tierney that Jota had fouled Max Kilman during the build-up. In short, it was the kind of stunning performance Liverpool fans had grown accustomed to seeing in a red shirt with the Portuguese champions in his first two campaigns.

When Jota was knocked out in the 76th minute, he was greeted with the usual hug from Klopp and a warm welcome from the Kop. It felt like one of Anfield’s favorites was finally closing in on his sensational record. Start conversation