Diogo Jota change becomes clear as history repeats itself for Liverpool forward
It was with a deft flick of the head that Diogo Jota announced his arrival at Anfield.
It had been nearly a year in the waiting for Liverpool's No.20, signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers 11 months earlier, as he ghosted in front of Ben Mee to break the deadlock in a routine 2-0 triumph against Burnley in August 2021.
For Jota, it was his first taste of a capacity Anfield crowd in the Premier League as Liverpool welcomed back supporters to their home for the first time in 18 months after the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Since then, it has been quite the journey for the Portuguese hot-shot as he recently surpassed the 50-goal landmark in a red shirt with a goal against Burnley in December and shortly after drew comparisons to those who stood before him in Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Luis Suarez, in the eyes of legendary ex-defender Jamie Carragher.
It was a typically nonchalant response from Jota when quizzed on Carragher's assessment: "I think it's a bit over the edge," he said. "I trust me, but the names that I've been linked with were better than me. That's all."
Such a calming and unassuming presence has personified Jota's style of play at Anfield over the last three and a half years. It is, therefore, no surprise that it is only Mohamed Salah who has scored more game-winning goals (26) than Jota's 18 at Anfield since September 2020. But it hasn't been entirely plain sailing either, with Jota's tally of 21 goals in the 2021/22 season not enough to earn him a starting berth in either the League Cup, FA Cup or Champions League final.
Times are changing
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