Liverpool forward Diogo Jota may not be happy this season if he isn’t playing regularly, according to Steve Nicol.
Speaking on ESPN FC, the pundit claimed with the new attacking signings, he could miss out more frequently.
Jota, 25, was a key man for Liverpool last year having the best season of his career.
He started 27 games last season in the league alone, scoring 15 times and assisting a further six goals.
Diogo Jota:
"Of course I always give my best. Things do not always go as you hope but there is a big season ahead – like I said, many games so hopefully I can be on the scoresheet often." #lfc [lfc] pic.twitter.com/Jw4yjc1ytZ
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) July 11, 2022
Speaking on ESPN, Nicol pondered: “Will he be happy as a super-sub? I would expect not.
“In his mind, if I am him, I am thinking, ‘This is a big game for me because I don’t want to be coming off the bench all the time’. So I think this is an important year for him.”
Signed for £41m from Wolverhampton in 2020, the Portuguese international has produced plenty of big moments for his side.
However, opportunities could be fewer in the big games with the arrival of record-signing Darwin Nunez.
Jurgen Klopp is likely to field a front-three of Luis Diaz, Nunez and Mohamed Salah from the start of the campaign.
Although considering fringe attackers such as Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino have left alongside former star man Sadio Mane, it should leave more minutes for Jota across all competitions.
Diogo Jota on the upcoming season:
"We are Liverpool, we need at least to fight for all the competitions we are involved in. Hopefully we can be so close and in all the decisive moments we were in last year." #lfc [lfc] pic.twitter.com/rZuenpm8Yd
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) July 11, 2022
With Nunez and Roberto Firmino occupying the central striking roles this season, Jota may find himself deputising on either wing.
Especially given that there is no direct replacement for the positions that Salah or Diaz occupy.
Whilst Jota came through at Wolverhampton in that left-wing position, he shone down the middle for the first half of last season.
That was until Mane took over as a ‘false nine’ which worked so well for the Reds in the second half of the season.