Diogo Jota could be an invaluable weapon for Arne Slott – but he needs to stay fit! – Liverpool FC

Diogo Jota’s 2023/24 season has been plagued by injuries, depriving Liverpool of one of their most lethal strikers at a time when goals have been scarce – a trend that cannot continue.

Of the Reds’ 58 games in Jurgen Klopp’s final season, the 27-year-old was unavailable for 23 games due to three different injury absences – accounting for 39.6 per cent of the season.

Availability is a player’s biggest asset, but it’s at a disadvantage when it comes to Jota – who is normally considered the first-choice member of the first line, when he’s fit.

A deadly finisher and invaluable poacher, but his injuries have become too much of a headline in 2023/24.

Stuck on the side

During Liverpool’s difficult period, when we were crying out for the player to finish any of the chances created, Jota’s name kept coming up.

His shares have risen despite being sidelined, a nod to his ability which has often seen him drag the Reds back into the match or score outright.

That’s what made his injuries all the more frustrating. Of the 23 games he has missed, Liverpool have lost or drawn 10, and only once has there been more than a goal.

Tearing the collateral ligament in his right knee against Brentford was unlucky, a case of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he was spared 11 games.

Earlier in the season, he missed eight matches with a muscle injury and then another four in the run-up to a hip problem – which came during the sealing man’s scoring run at Fulham.

And we will not talk about his ridiculous suspension for one game after two yellow cards in Tottenham!

Therefore, the longest run he could muster was 11 games – between the muscle injury and the incident at Brentford – and he started seven.

Klopp has constantly preached the importance of rhythm, and while Jotin was 23 at the end of the missed games, it’s safe to say he hasn’t been in top form for much longer.

He explained it himself in January: “Even though I might be fresh, there’s that rhythm that you obviously lose when you’re away for a while.”

Jota still made a valuable contribution on the scoreboard, but it will always be a case of ‘what if’ when it comes to how Liverpool’s season would have turned out had he remained fit throughout.

Deadly poacher

The Reds don’t have another poacher or finisher in the same range as Jota, he was the only attacker on the team to surpass their xG this season.

In all competitions he finished with 15 goals and four assists – and of his strikes, four were the openers and seven were the final goals of the game to make sure of the result.

He can drift in and out of games, but when moments of influence arise, he readily takes them and has a significant role in the final result.

To top it off, despite playing just 34 per cent of Premier League minutes this campaign, he accounted for 15 per cent of the Reds’ goals – only Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez had a higher percentage.

He is an invaluable weapon to have in the ranks – when you can use him – and you feel Liverpool’s season would have gone differently had he been fit.

Away games at Man United, away to Man City and trips to Everton and West Ham are just five examples, but Liverpool won none while Jota watched from the treatment room.

Counter-attacks were squandered and chances went begging again and again, but without their poacher nothing stuck and the Reds were guilty of overplaying the ball in the box.

The Portuguese forward offers a different profile to that of the rest of the team’s forwards, and he helps the others’ lights shine brighter, and Arne Slott will be hoping he can call on his big man on a regular basis.

The next challenge

The change of manager will create a lot of intrigue for players throughout the team, although you feel Jota can play a big role under Sloto.

The Dutchman prefers a 4-2-3-1 system and the 27-year-old is flexible enough to play in a number of forward positions, either as a central player or on the wings – where Slot prefers pace.

His flexibility will be key, but so will his availability.

Jota is in the 2023/24 season. played 19 minutes in the team, and considering that the Euro campaign with Portugal is ahead of us, we hope that he will be able to build a strong foundation this summer and in the pre-season.

He needs confidence in his body and Liverpool need to know they can rely on Jota to be available more often than not in 2024/25.

Best moment: Two goals and an assist against Bournemouth

Worst moment: Three different injury absences totaling 23 games for the side.

Role next season: If fit, first choice member of front line.