Jurgen Klopp discover Liverpool game-changer who can fire his Champions League teammates

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp didn’t have too much to celebrate after the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, but he singled out a positive player.

When you’re not creating much, you need the most determined players to step up and take a chance. Liverpool are certainly in such a position right now.

Mohamed Salah hit the bar in the game with Crystal Palace but Liverpool never really looked for another goal. The stats say they took 12 shots on goal, but the reality is that they only managed an expected combined goal value of 0.90. In a game that would have needed just one goal to decide it – something Trent Alexander-Arnold Jordan Henderson might remember after the Reds captain blocked his shot on target – Jurgen Klopp needed his changer of game.

Among them especially Diogo Jota. No Liverpool player has scored more opening or winning goals than the Portuguese striker last season, with most of them coming in the first half of the previous season.

His last goal came against Manchester City in mid-April 322 days ago, but getting Jota back on his feet will be crucial as Liverpool look to sneak into the top four and achieve their minimum target.

“Based on that, I’d say [his performance] was really, really good,” Klopp said of Jota after the game (via Liverpool Official Website), referring to the length of his recent injury, with his better levels of fitness and sharpness. yet to come back. “We tried to build it up a bit now, but it took a long time,” the Liverpool manager said.

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“Before that, he was also injured, so he came back from his international mission to prepare, he had no preparation, he got injured, then he played very good games, then he went again. injured. It’s been a very difficult season for him so far. “Absolutely ok, obviously he can play better, but that’s the way it is, that’s what we have to deal with and that’s what we do.”

In the first half of last season, this was the kind of game where Jota scored a goal to give Liverpool the lead and turn the tide of the match.

Liverpool have too often fallen behind this season and then have to chase the game; on this occasion they were always even, but never managed to finish in front.

Goals change games, and if you don’t play well, starting from nothing can mask the problems. Liverpool will continue to struggle ahead of the summer transfer window, so it’s vital Jota scores again soon.