Diogo Jota is primed for a big season at Liverpool

Diogo Jota has been something of a forgotten man at Liverpool when talking about the options Jurgen Klopp has at his disposal.

The man from Portugal is fit and raring to go with the new season just a matter of days away – something that Liverpool didn’t have the luxury of last term.

Jota has been flying in pre-season and looks as though he has struck a strong claim for that starting spot in Klopp’s first starting lineup at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

READ MORE: Predicting Liverpool's starting XI to play Chelsea

Although it’s only pre-season, Jota’s four goals during these fitness building matches will be key for his confidence heading into the new season with competition at an all-time high for a spot in the front three.

Mohamed Salah is a certainty to start in his favoured right forward role and it looks difficult to leave Cody Gakpo out of the side given his talents. So, that leaves one position for Darwin Nuñez, Luis Diaz and Jota to fight it out for.

One thing Klopp will love with these players is that they are all different. Nuñez offers sheer pace and unpredictability while Diaz has guile and trickery. Jota, however, is able to score goals the other two cannot. He is a box player and a top-class finisher.

The winning goal in the last minute against Tottenham Hotspur back in April was perhaps a goal only Jota would have scored and that is why he is key to this Liverpool side.

After struggling hugely since returning from a serious calf injury last season, Jota hit a run of goalscoring form to finish the season with seven goals in the league. That is obviously nothing to shout about, but it shows the sort of purple patch Jota can hit once he finds the back of the net.

If Jota starts the season on Sunday at Chelsea and finds the back of the net, he could quickly be near the top of the scoring charts in the Premier League in the early stages of the season. There is absolutely no guarantee Jota starts on Sunday given the attacking talent Klopp has in his squad, but the Portugal international is also more than capable at making an impact from off the bench.

What may work in Jota’s favour for starting on Sunday in West London is his defensive output. The forward is a willing worker and is huge for Liverpool when pressing from the front. In a tough game away at Chelsea, that could be a key swing in choosing who starts.

Jota’s 15 goals in the Premier League in the 2021/22 season is his best return for the Reds and it’s easy to see him make the step up from this as he develops further as a player.

READ MORE: Can Liverpool score enough goals to win the Premier League title?

One thing that will be a huge help to Jota, and something he has already highlighted in an interview during pre-season, is having players with the quality of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai feeding the balls through to him.

Speaking earlier in pre-season, Jota said: "I really like these kinds of players. They just see these passes. I just need to make the run and he will make it. I think I will link up very well with him."

Argentine World Cup winner Mac Allister has looked brilliant in pre-season and Reds fans can’t wait to see the new number 10 in action in the Premier League for Klopp’s side.

Partnered by the Hungary captain and, hopefully, Romeo Lavia, Mac Allister will be able to flourish in his midfield role and provide the type of passes Jota will be dreaming about.

If pre-season is anything to go by, then Liverpool may struggle defensively this term, but will score for fun. That’s not great for the nerves of us supporters, but the likes of Jota will be licking their lips.