Liverpool forward Diogo Jota is optimistic about the impact of new head coach Arne Slot’s plan to utilise him more centrally, believing it aligns well with his strengths.
During his four seasons under Jurgen Klopp, the Portugal international was often positioned as a left-sided attacker.
Despite this, he consistently contributed goals, netting 13 or more in three of those four seasons.
The exception was the 2022/23 season, during which he scored only seven goals due to a four-month absence caused by a calf injury.
Jota marked the start of the new campaign with a goal in Liverpool’s win over Ipswich on Saturday.
He began the match as a centre-forward, a role he assumed due to Darwin Nunez’s limited pre-season preparation following his Copa America participation.
“It’s obviously a bit different from Klopp where I maybe was useful out wide,” Jota told Liverpoolfc.com.
“I think here [Slot] wants our wingers a lot more in one-v-ones and I think we have better options than myself.
“If I stay in the middle and wait for those chances to come in and score them, I think that is what I do the best so you can take that into the season.”
On the win over Ipswich Town, the forward added: “Yeah, a positive performance.
“Obviously the first half was a bit harder, they were really on it [and] pressing almost man-v-man.
“The fans were there and we knew it was going to be a difficult first half because they would give it all – [it is] a long time since they have been in the Premier League.
“And then the second half they started giving us a little bit more space, which was enough for us to start building and start creating those spaces in behind.
“We created immediately a lot of chances and we ended up scoring two, so in the end I think it’s a deserved three points.
“It’s massive.
“I think we are still adapting to the way he [Slot] wants us to play and coming here to a newly promoted team, it’s never easy and we end up with a clean sheet and three points so I think building on top of the wins is always a lot easier.”
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