Liverpool forward Diogo Jota is taking inspiration from the longevity of his Portugal team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as he looks to bounce back from a nightmare 2022-23 campaign.
Jota scored 21 goals across all competitions as Liverpool went close to winning an unprecedented quadruple in 2021-22, lifting the FA and EFL Cups but finishing as Premier League and Champions League runners-up.
The former Wolves man then endured a torrid time of things last term, missing the start of the season with a hamstring issue before a calf injury sidelined him for Portugal’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.
As Liverpool finished outside the Premier League’s top four for the first time in a full campaign under Jurgen Klopp, the goals dried up for Jota, who finally ended a 12-month, 33-game drought at club level in a 6-1 thrashing of Leeds United in April.
It has been a different story for Jota and Liverpool this season, however, with a revamped Reds side tipped to challenge Manchester City for the title and Jota already netting eight goals in all competitions.
In an interview with Liverpool’s club media channels, Jota said he was relishing being a part of Klopp’s rebuild after enduring the most difficult season of his career.
“If you designed a graph of my career it was pretty much going up, and then you have a big injury,” Jota said. “You miss the first World Cup of your career.
“We [Liverpool] were not doing great also and I felt really bad that I could do nothing, just sit on the sofa watching the games, both Liverpool and Portugal.
“It was the worst [season] by far. You just go through it, trying to do the right things to be fit as soon as possible. There are still more World Cups to come, there are still better seasons to come.
“I tried to finish last season the best I could to help the team. We did a good last push, it was not enough, but this season we have a fresh start and we can write our own story again.”
The boss enjoyed our goals scored in #LIVBRE 💪 PIC.TWITTER.COM/4JPBDURYWG
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) NOVEMBER 13, 2023
Jota rifled in Liverpool’s third goal in Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League win over Brentford and has now netted seven times in his last 11 appearances across all competitions.
As the 26-year-old approaches what should be the prime years of his career, he has an obvious role model in fellow Portugal attacker Ronaldo.
Having played and trained alongside the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Jota is determined to replicate his longevity and maintain his own goalscoring form well into his 30s.
“You have a lot of energy when you are young but you still do a lot of mistakes and you always learn with experience,” Jota said.
“I always look up to Ronaldo, for example, and I think he scored more goals since he has been over 30 than before he was 30, so that shows it’s doable.
“It also means if you are 26, you can be away from your prime, and that’s what I expect and that’s what I work for every day.”
Both Jota and Ronaldo have been named in Portugal’s squad for their final Euro 2024 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Iceland this month, with Roberto Martinez’s team looking to maintain their perfect record in Group J after sealing qualification last month.
Arriving for international duty 🇵🇹👋
📸 @SELECAOPORTUGAL PIC.TWITTER.COM/LBQJRMRV4W
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) NOVEMBER 14, 2023
