Liverpool have started off the season looking toothless and out of ideas in front of goal.
Jurgen Klopp’s side has only managed to find the net through strokes of luck and a moment of magic from Luis Díaz thus far.
Lacking a true poacher in and around the box may be the cause of the issue with Darwin Núñez not yet playing a full 90 minutes and Diogo Jota being sidelined through injury.
Jota has not been seen this season and fans are starting to miss the Portugal international.
Report says Jota could return this week
According to GOAL, the 25-year-old is expected back in training by the end of August.
Remember Diogo Jota's first games at Liverpool? Need him fit again and to regain that form again 🔥
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) August 22, 2022
With Roberto Firmino struggling to pose any real threat to the opposition’s net, Jota will be welcomed back in a warm manner.
Should Jota be back in training this week as per reports, Liverpool will expect him back on the pitch in early to mid-September.
Having bagged 21 goals during the 2021/22 season, his natural instinct in front of goal as well as his clever movement could get the Red’s season back on track.
Not only this but Liverpool assistant manager, Pep Lijnders has previously been glowing in his reviews of the clinical forward.
Noting in his book that was recently released, Lijnders referred to Jota as “Our pressing monster”.
Lijnders was instrumental in helping bring Jota to the club back in 2020 and it is clear to see he has big plans for the player’s future.
With Liverpool being a pressing side, the ability to close down opposing defenders is vital in order to get the team back to winning ways.
How can Diogo Jota improve Liverpool when he returns?
Providing the side with a focal point will allow space for others on the pitch.
Contrastingly, Firmino has been rather suffocating his own teammates with his average position dropping deeper and deeper into midfield.
While this used to be an effective play style with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane making narrow runs in behind, this is no longer the case.
Salah and fellow winger, Luis Díaz, have been playing a lot wider and looking to cut inside.
However, Firmino has been dropping into the spaces that the pair are attempting to come inside to.
Having Jota back in the lineup could solve the problem as he is less about dropping in and linking play but more about getting into the box and scoring goals.
Being amongst the highest performers in terms of non penalty goals and non penalty xG last term, Jota definitely gives defenders something to worry about.
While Firmino has always been seen as vital in defending from the front, the Brazilian has gone too far that way in recent times and does not threaten the goal.
Jota has proven that he is still up there in terms of pressures per 90 minutes and tackles being won.
Jurgen Klopp will aim to utilise the Portuguese hitman to not only hassle defenders and make life difficult but to also finish off the chances created by his teammates.
Do you think the return of the lethal forward can assist the Reds in turning around their early season form?
