INTERVIEW’I think that’s what I do best’ – Diogo Jota on central role in Arne Slot’s Liverpool team

Wearing the No. 20 jersey, Jota demonstrated his goal-scoring prowess by netting the opening goal at the hour mark in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town in their Premier League opener on Saturday.

After the match, head coach Slot expressed his belief that Jota is most effective playing centrally, a sentiment the Portuguese forward echoed in his comments to Liverpoolfc.com. “I agree, especially with the style we’re playing now,” Jota said.

He noted that Slot’s approach differs from Jürgen Klopp’s, where Jota was often deployed on the wing. Slot prefers his wingers to engage in more one-on-one situations, which Jota believes other players are better suited for. “If I remain in the middle and focus on converting those opportunities, I think that’s where I excel, and it’s something I’m looking forward to this season,” Jota added.

Liverpool’s victory at Portman Road was largely secured by a significantly stronger team performance in the second half, capped off by Mohamed Salah’s goal shortly after Jota’s opener.

Reflecting on the match, Jota said, “It was a solid performance overall. The first half was more challenging as they were really pressing us, almost marking us man-to-man.”

Jota acknowledged the support from the fans and anticipated a tough first half, knowing Ipswich would be fully committed after being out of the Premier League for so long.

“In the second half, they began to leave us a bit more room, which allowed us to start creating spaces and chances behind their defense,” Jota explained. “We quickly generated a lot of opportunities and managed to score two goals, so I believe we earned those three points.”

Looking ahead, Liverpool’s next challenge is their first home game of the 2024-25 season against Brentford at Anfield on Sunday. Jota is pleased to have kicked off the season with a win.

“It’s huge. We’re still adjusting to the way Slot wants us to play, and coming to face a newly promoted team is never easy. But we secured a clean sheet and three points, which makes it easier to build momentum from here,” he added.