Diogo Jota pinpoints ‘key characteristics’ of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp

Sadio Mane Diogo Jota and Naby Keita

Diogo Jota has highlighted one of Jurgen Klopp’s “key characteristics” after recently celebrating 12 months at Liverpool.

The Portugal forward arrived at Anfield in September 2020 from Wolves for a an initial £41m, rising to £45m.

He penned a five-year deal and enjoyed superb first season, scoring 13 goals in 30 appearances. And such was impact last term that he has managed to oust one of Liverpool’s fabled front three, Roberto Firmino.

Jota has become one of Klopp’s go to front three, alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. And the 24-year-old has not disappointed with three goals in his first nine games.

Jota told the official Liverpool matchday programme, via the Liverpool Echo: “They are world-class players and I am very happy to be able to play with them and to get results with them.

“I feel like we are still developing our connections on the field and I think we can improve on that but that obviously develops with game-time and facing different opponents together.

“But hopefully, along with Bobby Firmino, as a front four we can get a lot of goals this season if we do the right things.”

Jota has also revealed the work that Klopp does with the fringe players in the Liverpool squad.

Ever since the German coach arrived in October 2015, Klopp has garnered a togetherness that previous Anfield bosses had not managed to do.

Asked whether working under Klopp was how he envisaged, he said: “It’s hard to tell because obviously I expected some things, but in terms of the day-to-day things I didn’t know what to expect.

 

“I think he is an outstanding manager in terms of the relationship that he can establish with the players, especially with those that don’t play as often as the others.

“That is one of his key characteristics and I am just happy to be able to work with him.”


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Jota: It feels like I’m playing for a different club

Jota has also described how this season, playing in front of acpacked out Anfield, has seemed like a million miles away from last season’s games which were subject to Covid-19 restrictions.

The Reds inexplicably lost six successive home top-flight games for the first time in their history in an empty Anfield.

 

This season, though, Jota scored on his first Liverpool outing in front of 52,591 in the 2-0 win over Burnley in August.

And he said: “I remember how hard it was to play at Anfield being an opposition player!

“Then last year I wasn’t able to play a lot at Anfield with the fans supporting us inside a full stadium like I am doing this season.

“It feels almost like I am playing in a different club from last season because we couldn’t have that support and I believe that our fans are extremely important for us.”

READ MORE: Ex-Liverpool star claims ‘amazing’ star rivalling Salah to be Klopp’s most crucial