Diogo Jota shares what Jurgen Klopp did at Liverpool recently which took him by surprise

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Diogo Jota has admitted that Jurgen Klopp surprised him over Liverpool’s recent run of games.

Jota has only just returned from injury but has been lapping up the plaudits recently. Labelled ‘frightening’ by Danny Murphy, he’s expected to step up in Mohamed Salah’s absence.

The excitement over the Portugal international really came to a head with a goal against Burnley on Boxing Day. It was Jota’s first game for over a month and despite being on the pitch for just minutes he got himself a goal.

Now he’s been speaking to liverpoolfc.com about his surprise at even being picked for the match at Turf Moor. Despite not expecting to travel with team, Klopp had other ideas.

“I told this story, but it was a special 24 hours because I was not really expecting to be in the matchday squad,” said the 27-year-old. “I was with family at home for Christmas and I just came back and I said, ‘Look, you cannot travel tomorrow because I’ll be part of the team for Burnley, so I want you guys there with me and, by the way, I’m going to score.’

“We changed everything, I had this celebration as well ready, and I was so glad when the ball went in. I think Jurgen said, and it totally made sense, [that I’m] a boy full of conviction, and that was true. It was a special moment for me and for my family and everyone was happy in the end.”

Jota surprised by early recall

After his little cameo against Burnely, Jota might have been expected to be chucked back in from the start of Monday’s win over Newcastle United.

But instead, the former Wolves man was merely a second-half substitute again.

This time, Jota wasn’t able to get on the scoresheet, although he very nearly did. Having rounded Martin Dubravka but gone down for a penalty, Diogo drew criticism from some high-profile pundits.

Nevertheless, it was still a show of just how sharp Liverpool’s No.20 is following his enforced absence.

Liverpool are going to need him at his sharpest over the coming weeks, too. With Salah away at AFCON, the Reds need someone to step into the breach.

As somebody who’s been declared as the second best forward in Klopp’s squad, Jota looks poised to pick up the goal-scoring slack.

You get the impression that that will suit him just fine. In-line for a start at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, Diogo will look to get the ball rolling with a goal against his favourite opposition.

Jurgen might have surprised him at Christmas, but Jota coming up with the goods in Salah’s absence would be a shock to precisely no one.