Diogo Jota‘s 2023/24 season was suffering from damage, robbing Liverpool of one in every of their most deadly forwards at a time when objectives have been briefly provide – a development that may’t proceed.
Of the Reds’ 58 video games in Jurgen Klopp‘s last season, the 27-year-old was unavailable for 23 of them as a result of three totally different damage absences – which accounts for 39.6 % of the season.
Availability is a participant’s best asset, however it’s briefly provide when it issues Jota – who in any other case is extensively thought of a first-choice member of the entrance line, when match.
A lethal finisher and a useful poacher, however his accidents turned too massive of a headline in 2023/24.
Diogo Jota, 2023/24
Began: 19 (All competitions)
On in its place: 13
Unused sub: 2
Targets: 15
Assists: 4
General Season Ranking: 7.42
Caught on the sidelines
Throughout Liverpool’s tough patch, after we have been crying out for a participant to complete any of the probabilities created, Jota’s identify continually got here to the fore.
His inventory rose regardless of being caught on the sidelines, a nod to his capabilities which have typically seen him drag the Reds again right into a match or seal a consequence totally.
It’s what made his damage absences all of the extra irritating. Of the 23 video games he missed, Liverpool misplaced or drew 10 of them, and solely as soon as was there greater than a aim in it.
The collateral ligament tear in his proper knee in opposition to Brentford was unfortunate, a case of being within the mistaken place on the mistaken time, but it surely saved him out for 11 video games.
Earlier within the season, he missed eight matches as a result of a muscle damage after which an additional 4 within the run-in with a hip grievance – which got here throughout the means of scoring the sealer at Fulham.
And we gained’t speak about his ridiculous one-game suspension after two yellow playing cards at Tottenham!
The longest run within the facet he might, subsequently, muster was 11 video games – between his muscle damage and the incident at Brentford – and he began seven of them.
Klopp was constantly a preacher for the significance of rhythm, and whereas Jota’s finish tally of video games missed was 23, you’ll be able to safely say he wasn’t in high type for a substantial extra.
He defined this himself in January: “Though I could possibly be contemporary there’s that rhythm that you just clearly lose when you’re out for a time period.”
Jota did nonetheless supply a beneficial contribution on the scoreboard, however it’s going to all the time be a case of ‘what if’ with regards to how Liverpool’s season would have turned out had he remained match all through.
The deadly poacher
The Reds don’t possess one other poacher or finisher in the identical bracket as Jota, he was the one ahead within the squad who overperformed their xG this season.
In all competitions, he completed with 15 objectives and 4 assists – and of his strikes, 4 have been openers and 7 have been the ultimate aim of the sport to verify of the consequence.
He can drift out and in of video games, however when moments come up to have an affect, he readily takes them and has a major half to play in the long run consequence.
To additional that time, regardless of solely enjoying 34 % of the minutes within the Premier League this marketing campaign, he accounted for 15 % of the Reds’ aim involvements – solely Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez had a larger share.
He is a useful weapon to have inside the ranks – when you should use him – and also you sense Liverpool’s season would have panned out otherwise had he been match all through.
Within the away video games at Man United, the go to of Man Metropolis and the journeys to Everton and West Ham, they’re solely 5 examples, however Liverpool gained none as Jota watched on from the remedy room.
Counter-attacks have been squandered and possibilities went begging time and time once more, however with out their poacher, nothing caught, and the Reds turned responsible of over-playing the ball within the field.
The Portuguese ahead presents a special profile to that of the workforce’s different forwards, and he helps the sunshine of others to shine brighter, and Arne Slot will hope to have the ability to continually name on his big-time participant.
The subsequent problem
The change of supervisor will create loads of intrigue for gamers all through the squad, although you sense Jota can play a giant function below Slot.
The Dutchman prefers a 4-2-3-1 system, and the 27-year-old is versatile sufficient to play in quite a lot of these ahead positions, both because the central participant or on the wings – the place Slot prefers tempo.
His flexibility will probably be key, however so will his availability.
Jota performed the Nineteenth-most minutes throughout the squad in 2023/24, and with a Euros marketing campaign with Portugal to come back, the hope will probably be that he can construct a powerful basis this summer time and into pre-season.
He wants confidence in his physique and Liverpool have to know they will depend on Jota to be extra obtainable than not in 2024/25.
Greatest second: Two objectives and an help vs. Bournemouth
Worst second: Three totally different damage absences totalling 23 video games on the sidelines.
Position subsequent season: If match, a first-choice member within the ahead line.
