Diogo Jota‘s 2023/24 season was tormented by damage, robbing Liverpool of one in every of their most deadly forwards at a time when objectives had 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 resulting from three completely 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 grew to become too large of a headline in 2023/24.
Diogo Jota, 2023/24
Began: 19 (All competitions)
On instead: 13
Unused sub: 2
Objectives: 15
Assists: 4
Total Season Score: 7.42
Caught on the sidelines
Throughout Liverpool’s tough patch, after we had been crying out for a participant to complete any of the possibilities created, Jota’s identify always 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 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 purpose in it.
The collateral ligament tear in his proper knee in opposition to Brentford was unfortunate, a case of being within the fallacious place on the fallacious time, nevertheless it saved him out for 11 video games.
Earlier within the season, he missed eight matches resulting from a muscle damage after which an extra 4 within the run-in with a hip criticism – which got here through the technique 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, due to this fact, 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 possibly can safely say he wasn’t in prime type for a substantial extra.
He defined this himself in January: “Though I might be recent there may be that rhythm that you simply clearly lose if you find yourself out for a time period.”
Jota did nonetheless supply a invaluable contribution on the scoreboard, however it would at all times be a case of ‘what if’ relating 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 had been openers and 7 had been the ultimate purpose 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 taking part in 34 % of the minutes within the Premier League this marketing campaign, he accounted for 15 % of the Reds’ purpose involvements – solely Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez had a higher proportion.
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 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 therapy room.
Counter-attacks had been squandered and probabilities went begging time and time once more, however with out their poacher, nothing caught, and the Reds grew to become responsible of over-playing the ball within the field.
The Portuguese ahead presents a distinct profile to that of the group’s different forwards, and he helps the sunshine of others to shine brighter, and Arne Slot will hope to have the ability to always name on his big-time participant.
The following problem
The change of supervisor will create loads of intrigue for gamers all through the squad, although you sense Jota can play an enormous function underneath 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 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 return, the hope will probably be that he can construct a powerful basis this summer season 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 completely different damage absences totalling 23 video games on the sidelines.
Position subsequent season: If match, a first-choice member within the ahead line.
