Liverpool ahead Diogo Jota believes new head coach Arne Slot‘s want for him to function extra centrally performs to his strengths.
The Portugal worldwide recurrently discovered himself deployed because the left-sided attacker through the 4 seasons he had below Jurgen Klopp however he nonetheless chipped in together with his fair proportion of targets.
In three of his 4 campaigns he scored 13 or extra, and the season he registered solely seven – 2022/23 – he missed 4 months with a calf damage.
Jota opened his account with a aim in Saturday’s win at Ipswich, the place he began as centre-forward on account of Darwin Nunez‘s lack of pre-season minutes after his Copa America involvement.
“It’s clearly a bit totally different from Klopp the place I perhaps was helpful out extensive,” Jota instructed the membership’s web site.
“I feel right here [Slot] needs our wingers much more in one-v-ones and I feel we now have higher choices than myself.
“If I keep within the center and look ahead to these possibilities to return in and rating them, I feel that’s what I do one of the best so you possibly can take that into the season.”
What is going to undoubtedly make extra of a distinction to Jota – and Liverpool – can be remaining match as he has been affected by accidents for a lot of his keep at Anfield.
He was dominated out for 3 months with a knee damage in his debut season and within the final two years has been absent for 47 of 110 matches (43 %).
However he had 14 targets to his credit score by mid-February final season till one other damage noticed him miss three of the ultimate 5 months.
Portugal’s early exit from Euro 2024 allowed him to have an extended pre-season than a few of his team-mates and that has offered the chance to impress Slot, who had a completely match squad to select from at Portman Street.
• READ: Dominik Szoboszlai has defined the massive distinction in Slot’s new midfield setup
The primary half proved a check towards the newly-promoted aspect however an enchancment after the interval noticed Liverpool safe a cushty victory.
“I feel we’re nonetheless adapting to the way in which he needs us to play and [against] a newly-promoted crew it’s by no means straightforward,” he added.
“We find yourself with a clear sheet and three factors so I feel constructing on high of the wins is at all times loads simpler.”
