Jota and Gakpo to take on added responsibility at Liverpool as Firmino departs

Keifer MacDonald wrote that even though Diogo Jota has had a series of injuries that made him somewhat forgotten at Anfield, he still plays a vital role in Jurgen Klopp’s plans, and Man City is aware of how much of a threat he can be, despite waiting for his return for 347 days.

On April 10th, during a thrilling 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Manchester City in their race for the Premier League title, Diogo Jota scored an important goal for Liverpool after receiving a precise pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

At that moment, Jota was undoubtedly Jurgen Klopp’s most valuable player. This goal marked his 21st and final goal of an exceptional second season at Anfield, where he also scored crucial goals at Old Trafford, Goodison Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the Emirates.

However, when it came time for Jurgen Klopp to choose his strongest attacking lineup for the Champions League final against Real Madrid, just over six weeks later, there was no place for Diogo Jota.

He was only able to play a weak 25-minute role from the bench at Stade de France as Liverpool was unsuccessful in their attempts to overcome the exceptional Thibaut Courtois.

After his disappointing cameo at the Champions League final, things haven’t been the same for Diogo Jota or Liverpool. As they enter the final stretch of a disappointing season, Liverpool will play at the Etihad, where Jota last scored a Premier League goal.

With Darwin Nunez withdrawing from Uruguay’s squad due to injury, and Luis Diaz still recovering, Jota is expected to start alongside Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah on April 1, hoping to end his 12-month goal drought.

Although going 347 days without scoring a goal is discouraging for any forward, Jota’s injury problems and individual misfortunes since his previous trip to Manchester make it an understandable explanation.

To be more precise, Diogo Jota’s goalless run has now extended to 29 games, which is not great, but better than it seems at first glance. Severe hamstring and calf injuries have caused him to miss more than five months of action since initially injuring himself while playing for Portugal in the Nations League last June.

Recently, Jota was seen as a possible player to depart Anfield ahead of the summer transfer window, with Liverpool expected to have a significant overhaul of midfield options.

It was surprising to see his name included in such rumors after supporters have spent much of the season lamenting the lack of quality in reserve. Images of Diaz’s progress, along with Gakpo and Nunez’s recent performances, made fans speculate about Jota’s future.

However, with Liverpool preparing to say farewell to the long-serving Roberto Firmino at the end of the season, Jota’s importance at Anfield could go beyond his goalscoring ability, which he has demonstrated since his £45m move from Wolverhampton Wanderers three years ago.

At present, it seems likely that Liverpool’s recent £37m signing, Cody Gakpo, will take on Roberto Firmino’s role as the club’s attacking midfield presser, dropping between the lines to link midfield and attack.

Gakpo’s willingness to cover all areas of the pitch and contribute during transitional phases has endeared him to Liverpool fans.

However, Jota is also eager to take on more responsibility, as he averaged more tackles in the final third and a higher number of tackles and interceptions per-90 minutes than any other forward at the club last season, except for Firmino.

Klopp praised Jota’s qualities, including his ability to score goals, work hard for the team, and play in any attacking position with an incredible attitude when he signed a new contract last summer.

With Firmino leaving this summer, Jota’s importance at Anfield may extend beyond scoring goals.