Diogo Jota has had a difficult season with Liverpool and what happens over the next few months could determine the future direction of the attack under Arne Slot
Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota
Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota(Image: Gualter Fatia - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Liverpool's game-breaker has become broken. And the fix preferred by the Reds will go some way to outlining the future direction of the attack under Arne Slot.
The player in question is, of course, Diogo Jota, who gained a richly-merited reputation of being the scorer of the opening goal in games following his arrival from Wolves back in September 2020.
Indeed, it was the Portuguese who netted the first goal of the Slot era when sending Liverpool on their way to a 2-0 win at promoted Ipswich Town on the opening weekend of the Premier League season back in August.
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Jota started the campaign as the preferred central striker and began 10 of the first 11 games in all competitions, scoring a further three goals - including the only strike in the win at Crystal Palace - and contributing three assists.
But the worrying upper body injury suffered against Chelsea in October was a turning point. Jota hasn't been the same since and neither, up to a point, has Liverpool's threat down the centre of the attack.
On his return in mid-December, there were important equalisers from the bench at home to Fulham and away at Nottingham Forest. However, as a starter Jota has appeared way off the pace - not helped by a further muscle problem - evidenced by a brace of ineffectual performances against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and a forgettable outing in the League Cup final loss to Newcastle United a fortnight ago.
There was the subsequent morale boost of an assist for Portugal in their UEFA Nations League win over Denmark last week. Jota, though, has now gone 10 games with scoring for Liverpool despite his role being simplified. Having joined as a versatile forward, he is now very much a central operator.
The striker is acutely aware of his current travails. "It’s been a difficult season for me personally," admitted Jota earlier this month. "I had a few complications throughout the season. Obviously these last couple of months are the ones that matter the most, where you decide things.
"I don’t feel I’m on my best form at the moment but certainly by playing I will get there. And I always try to do my best, no matter what."
It may well be that injuries are finally catching up with the 28-year-old. Last season he had three separate spells on the sidelines with problems ranging from knee ligament damage to a hip issue. That he still scored 15 goals that campaign underlined what the Reds had been missing.
In 2022/23, a hamstring injury suffered during pre-season following by a serious calf problem that ruled him out of the World Cup went some way to explaining why he went more than a year without netting for Liverpool. It's no coincidence his one season without a lengthy spell on the sidelines saw his best goal return of 21 in 2021/22.
Jota's style of play, all physicality and hard pressing, may have been ideal under Jurgen Klopp but it has undoubtedly taken a toll on his body. And his lack of availability has made it difficult to ascertain if it best suits the approach Slot prefers.
And that's a question being posed of many of Jota's fellow Liverpool forwards. Darwin Nunez remains a target for Saudi Arabia, Luis Diaz is linked with both the Saudi Pro League and Spain, a lack of minutes this season has seen Federico Chiesa touted with a return to Italy while, of course, as it stands Mohamed Salah is edging ever nearer departing on a free transfer in the summer. Wolves, meanwhile, were this week linked with considering an attempt to take Jota back to Molineux.
They can't and won't all leave. Slot, though, has long declared Liverpool will be in the market for a new number nine during the forthcoming transfer window, casting doubt over all who have featured in the role this term.
With nine games remaining, there is still an opportunity for Jota to end the season as he began it by once again becoming the Reds' first-choice centre forward. But if Liverpool decide the Portugal international's race is close to being run at Anfield, it could point to a revamp of the Reds attack in more than just personnel.