Speaking to the official Liverpool website, Jota revealed his excitement ahead of the trip to Manchester United on Sunday as the Reds look to claw their way back into the top four.
The forward, who arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer for a reported fee worth £45million, has yet to face Manchester United as a Liverpool player but seems set to start against them on Sunday.
Typically, the club site doesn’t interview players that won’t be involved in a fixture and while it’s bold to presume club journalist Glenn Price is privy to Jurgen Klopp’s team news, it looks as though Jota will start.
The forward told Price: “Obviously every game is important but obviously being a Liverpool player, playing against Man United is always a special game – maybe even bigger than other big matches that we have in the Premier League.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 28: Diogo Jota of Liverpool celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides third goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on September 28, 2020 in Liverpool, England. PHOTO BY PAUL ELLIS – POOL/GETTY IMAGES.
“It will be my first game against them this season for Liverpool. Not just that game, I missed a lot of games, unfortunately, so I couldn’t help the team. But now I’m here to help, and on Sunday there’s a big one to come and to help [with].”
Jota is experiencing a dry patch for Liverpool since scoring twice against Arsenal following the last international break.
With Champions League qualification still a slim possibility for the Reds, it’s the perfect time for the former Wolves star to return to his early-season form.
So far, Jota has 12 goals for the club and was in fantastic form before a knee injury ruined his progress. United are in fantastic form after they obliterated AS Roma in the Europa League on Thursday evening, winning 6-2 in an absolute goal-fest at Old Trafford.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 29: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League Semi-final First Leg match between Manchester United and AS Roma at Old Trafford on April 29, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
While Manchester United have little to play for in the Premier League, they will relish the golden opportunity they have to effectively end Liverpool’s hopes of playing in the Champions League next season.
If Klopp’s men are to snatch this chance away from them, they will need to be far more clinical than they have been in the last two league games.
Leeds and Newcastle punished their sloppiness with late equalisers to take four important points away from the Reds.
In their last two outings, Liverpool have had 39 shots at goal, with 16 on target. Their two goals from 39 shots is a 5% conversion rate and will be surely be punished by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team.
