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 in brief provide – a development that may’t proceed.
Of the Reds’ 58 video games in Jurgen Klopp‘s remaining 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 biggest asset, however it’s in brief provide when it considerations Jota – who in any other case is broadly thought-about 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 as an alternative: 13Unused sub: 2Goals: 15Assists: 4Overall 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 possibilities created, Jota’s title continuously 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 end result fully.
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 objective in it.
The collateral ligament tear in his proper knee towards 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 discuss his ridiculous one-game suspension after two yellow playing cards at Tottenham!
The longest run within the aspect 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 persistently 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 kind for a substantial extra.
He defined this himself in January: “Though I may very well be contemporary there may be that rhythm that you simply clearly lose when you’re out for a time period.”
Jota did nonetheless provide a worthwhile contribution on the scoreboard, however it’s going to all the time be a case of ‘what if’ in relation 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 objective of the sport to ensure of the end result.
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 ultimately end result.
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’ objective involvements – solely Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez had a larger share.
He is a useful weapon to have throughout the ranks – when you need to use him – and also you sense Liverpool’s season would have panned out in a different way 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 probabilities 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 provides a special profile to that of the staff’s different forwards, and he helps the sunshine of others to shine brighter, and Arne Slot will hope to have the ability to continuously name on his big-time participant.
The following problem
The change of supervisor will create numerous intrigue for gamers all through the squad, although you sense Jota can play a giant function beneath Slot.
The Dutchman prefers a 4-2-3-1 system, and the 27-year-old is versatile sufficient to play in quite a few these ahead positions, both because the central participant or on the wings – the place Slot prefers tempo.
His flexibility shall 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 shall be that he can construct a powerful basis this summer time and into pre-season.
He wants confidence in his physique and Liverpool must know they will depend on Jota to be extra accessible than not in 2024/25.
Finest 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.
