Portuguese international Diogo Jota joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2020 and was a high scorer, scoring 15 goals throughout the season, despite being out injured several times during the process.
During Jurgen Klopp’s time in charge, he was used as a centre-forward in some games, but mainly played on the left wing and sometimes on the right wing. Under Arne Slot, however, his position has been fixed in the middle of the front line.
The 27-year-old Portuguese forward explained how the Dutch coach uses him, saying that he requires the winger to break through in one-on-one situations. He also revealed that he is still adapting to the player, although he is expected to make moves that lead directly to goals.
“It’s obviously a bit different from Klopp where I maybe was useful out wide,”
“I think [Slot] wants our wingers more in one on ones, and for that I think we have better options than myself.”
“If I stay in the middle and wait for those chances to come in and score them, I think that is what I do the best so you can take that into the season, [but] I think we are still adapting to the way he wants us to play.”
Liverpoolfc.com
With a variety of goal scoring patterns, including right foot, left foot and head, the Portuguese attacker has a better scoring sense than other attackers such as Darwin Nunez and Luis Dias.
As well as his finishing work in front of goal, he is also highly competent in containing the ball and working with others.
If he can reduce his time off the bench through injury as much as possible and continue to produce the kind of performances he showed at Ipswich Town, he could be in the top half of the Premier League scoring charts, but will he have a breakthrough season…?