Diogo Jota has endured an injury hit season despite Liverpool's success under Arne Slot
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Diogo Jota attends a press conference at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, north-west England, on March 10, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League football match against Paris Saint Germain
(Image: Photo by Paul Currie / AFP)
Diogo Jota has admitted he is yet to rediscover his best form in an injury-plagued season for Liverpool. The Portuguese started the campaign as first choice up front under Arne Slot, and has scored eight times.
But making 27 appearances in all competitions, he has been limited to just 16 starts and missed 15 matches because of injury. Since making his initial return after a two-month lay-off with an impact injury back in December, he has scored four goals.
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The striker admits it has been a frustrating campaign for him on a personal basis. But with Liverpool pursuing multiple honours, is hopeful he can make a decisive impact in the finals months of the season and put his injury woes behind him.
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“It's been a difficult season for me personally,” he admitted. “I had a few complications throughout the season.
“Obviously these last few months are the ones that matter the most, where you decide things. I don't feel I am at my best at the moment. But certainly by playing I will get there.
“And I always try to do my best no matter what. You never know [how long it takes]. It’s football, I don't play alone.
It is not an individual sport so there are a lot of things you can't control yourself, but one thing you can control is to give your best and that’s always what I do on the pitch.”
He continued: “I don’t know (when I was last at my best). Obviously sometimes you can have bad games.
“Sometimes you can also have good games when that form is a certain amount of games. I think as long as you keep being useful to the team, that is most important.
“Sometimes not only the stats, but the way you can connect to your team-mates and the way you can help the team defensively and how you can help the team get the win.
“That’s what I try to do every time I am on the pitch. As a striker, I want to get involved in scoring goals and creating those opportunities. Every game is a new opportunity to do that.”
Liverpool are back in Champions League action on Tuesday night as they host Paris Saint-Germain in their round-of-16 second leg at Anfield. Jota started the first leg last week at the Parc des Princes as the Reds grabbed a late 1-0 smash-and-grab victory.
Darwin Nunez started in his place in the weekend’s victory over Southampton, scoring the equaliser before winning the penalty that gave Liverpool the lead.
It remains uncertain which of the strikers, if either, will be selected to start against PSG, with Jota reminded it is four years since he last scored in the Champions League ahead of facing the French giants.
And with Sunday’s League Cup final against Newcastle United also on the horizon, Jota is determined to help Liverpool as best he can.
“It is a big week, it’s a big week. We knew that before,” he said. “The Southampton game was massive because it is the only game we play this month in the Premier League, so we did our job there.
“And now two more games this week in two different competitions. I think two are decisive but one has a trophy on the line already.
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“Four years (since I scored?) Wow. I think stats are also a part of today's game especially. But they don't say everything.
“I want to score, obviously, but it is not a factor that will impact my game at all tomorrow. If I don't score and we go through, I don't mind. Keep adding a few more days into it!
“So it is one game at a time, tomorrow is a big game and we want to go through. At the weekend we want to win the trophy, but it’s one game at a time.”