Diogo Jota’s strike earned Arne Slot a first Merseyside Derby victory on Wednesday against Everton at Anfield.
Liverpool won by the odd-goal to nil to restore a twelve-point lead at the top of the Premier League, and steer ever closer towards the title that they most desire.
Slot’s side had come under scrutiny for their performances pre-international break in the week they bowed out of the Champions League and lost the Carabao Cup Final, but the three points on Wednesday felt more than just Merseyside bragging rights.
Jota has become a key figure of the club’s success since joining from Wolves in 2020, but has experienced his fair share of difficulty this season and we will be discussing why his dramatic derby winner needs to be a sign of things to come for the run-in.
ENDING THE GOAL DROUGHT
Diogo Jota has often been a consistent goal-scorer for Liverpool, but has struggled to replicate that form this season.
Prior to Everton, the Portuguese forward had netted just three league goals since the season opener against Ipswich Town in which he scored the Reds’ first of the Arne Slot era.
He was also on a damning seven-match goal drought in the Premier League, since heading in an equaliser away at Nottingham Forest in January, but in all competitions, the dry period stood at ten matches.
There was a huge let-off from all inside Anfield when Jota scored with one of his trademark finishes.
The forward showed composure to dribble past two Everton players, leading them to fall to the ground, before wrongfooting goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and hammer home in-front of the Kop.
It felt as though his goal had been in waiting for most of the night, after scuffing an effort high and wide of Pickford’s goal during the first-half, whilst almost getting on the end of two Mohamed Salah crosses.
In the second half, Jota continued to graft and was finally successful when the ball arrived at his feet in the fifty-seventh minute.
LIVERPOOL’S BEST FINISHER
Diogo Jota’s eye for goal is second-to-none when in top form.
The forward loves to stay on the last line of the opposing defence so that when an opportunity arrives, he will have the best chance of capitalising if or when a mistake is made.
During his Liverpool career, Jota has scored sixty-five times and is often labelled as the club’s best finisher, despite the undeniable brilliance provided by Mohamed Salah on a seasonal basis.
This is not to diminish the incredible goalscoring numbers that Salah has produced over the past eight seasons, but rather highlighting the fact that Jota is probably the more natural finisher.
Jamie Carragher sparked debate when labelling the Portuguese as Liverpool’s best finisher live on Sky Sports last year, comparing the forward to the man whom Liverpool supporters call ‘God’ – Robbie Fowler.
Nathan Stirk/Getty Images.
Carragher said, “I think some of the strikers I’ve played alongside: Michael Owen, Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres, Robbie Fowler. I think he is the best finisher.”
“Robbie, maybe in terms of pure finishing, hard and low into the corner, but when Jota gets a chance, he is so clinical. I think he’s a better finisher than the likes of Suarez, Torres, even Salah.”
“The only one who can compete with him is Robbie Fowler at the start of the Premier League years.”
That’s some statement from the former Liverpool defender.
STAYING FIT IS NON-NEGOTIABLE
It’s easy to heap praise towards a player whilst they’re performing on a weekly basis, but for Diogo Jota, he is a player who seems to be in-and-out of the Liverpool team.
The forward began the season strongly, but has since faced multiple setbacks, leading to missing eighteen matches and a total of seventy-one days whilst injured.
Throughout his time at Liverpool, Jota’s injury record isn’t for good reading having being sidelined for 436 days, the equivalent to 99 games for club and country.
Diogo Jota’s injury troubles at Liverpool are concerning. David Rawcliffe/Propaganda.
Despite these troubles, he has managed eighteen starts as the leading number nine for Arne Slot this season, the most of any other, surpassing Luis Diaz, twelve and Darwin Núñez just eight.
This shows that Jota is the man most trusted to be the focal point of Arne Slot’s attack, as well as having started in the previous three matches.
Liverpool are on the cusp of securing their second Premier League title.
Eight games remain and just four victories will seal their place as the champions of England, once again.
Just as against Everton, Diogo Jota’s goals can very much prove to be the deciding factors in games and if he can return to consistent goalscoring form, then the Reds will have no problems in sealing league number twenty with games to spare.
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.