Jurgen Klopp has praised Diogo Jota after his performance for Liverpool against Crystal Palace on Saturday night.
Klopp has told Liverpool’s official website that he felt Jota was ‘really, really good’ given that it was his first start for a long time.
Klopp did note that Jota can be better but his display must be taken in the context of a ‘really difficult season’ given repeated setbacks.
Jota couldn’t help Liverpool win the game as they could only draw 0-0 at Crystal Palace.
Still, Klopp was impressed and will now hoping to see more from Jota going forward as he builds up his fitness levels.
“Based on that, I would say [his performance was] really, really good,” said Klopp. “We tried now to build it up slightly but it was a long time. Before that he was injured as well, so he came back from international duty for pre-season, he had no pre-season, he was injured, then he played a few games really good and then he was injured again. So far, it’s a really difficult season for him. Absolutely OK, he can play better of course, but that’s how it is, that’s what we have to go through and that’s what we do,” he added.
Diogo Jota can be key addition to Liverpool attack
Jota has been outstanding in his first two seasons for Liverpool, racking up 34 goals in 85 games after a move from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 26-year-old has endured major frustration this season though with hamstring and calf injuries leaving him on the sidelines.
That means Jota has started just three Premier League games this season and come off the bench in another four.
Jota is yet to score this season but this return from injury will hopefully see him make a big impact.
Liverpool’s top four hopes are hanging by a thread and they need any kind of boost to try and string some results together.
Jota’s return will hopefully serve as that kind of catalyst, especially once he is a little more match-sharp.
The Portuguese attacker offers a real fox in the box presence and is something different than his other Liverpool attacking teammates.
Jota is a proven goalscorer and can now offer the ideal support to Mohamed Salah given that Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo are still adjusting to the Premier League.
Let’s just hope for no more annoying injuries in the coming weeks.
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