Diogo Jota On Final Goal vs. Fulham: “I Was Waiting for My Chance”

Against Fulham, a returning Diogo Jota once again proved that he’s the best finisher Liverpool have.

In April, while Liverpool’s overall play arguably wasn’t a problem, their finishing inarguably was. Too often, their attackers let the rest of the side down and the Reds were knocked out of the Europa League and dropped out of pole position in the Premier League.

On Sunday against Fulham, then, many were excited to see the return of their most clinical finisher, Diogo Jota. And true to his reputation, the Portuguese striker converted to make it 3-1 in the 72nd minute and secure all three points for Jürgen Klopp’s travelling Reds.

“It was massive for me and for the team as well,” Jota reflected. “That goal gives you an extra bit of comfort, it kind of kills the game. I think it was massive for me and for the team, so I’m happy for that. I was waiting for my chance for the whole game until that point.”

For Liverpool in the league this season, Jota has converted nearly a quarter of his shots, taking 41 and scoring ten goals. Mohamed Salah has converted around 18%. Cody Gakpo 12%. Darwin Nuñez and Luis Diaz are both disappointingly sat at around 10%.

Conversion rate, as important as it is, isn’t the be all and end all. Nuñez in particular creates a noteworthy number of chances—both for himself and those around him—and that sheer attacking volume helps to make up for much of his profligacy in front of goal.

It’s clear, though, that if an important chance is going to fall to a Liverpool player, be it to claw back level or put a game away, the man you want there to try to slot it is Diogo Jota. That out of any Liverpool player, he’s the one who can be trusted to convert.

Now, with Liverpool no longer in pole position, they know there is no margin for error the rest of the way. To even have a chance of winning the Premier League, they need to be perfect. And the return of their most clinical finisher, just maybe, is cause for hope.

“We know to have a chance we need to win our remaining games,” Jota added. “This week is massive because we have a short time to rest and a lot of away games. We got the first win but the Merseyside derby is next and with a quick turnaround and we go again.”