Diogo Jota explains his new goal celebration after scoring twice for Liverpool against West Ham

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool are basking in the glory of yet another win under Arne Slot after seeing off West Ham in the Carabao Cup.

The Reds have recovered impeccably from their recent blip against Nottingham Forest, responding to beat AC Milan and then Bournemouth.

Having started the season poorly under Julen Lopetegui, facing West Ham at Anfield looked liked a good way for Liverpool to get another win on the board.

Things did not start especially well, though. Jarell Quansah was unfortunate to put through his own net to give the Hammers the lead inside 25 minutes.

But as was the case when conceding early against Milan, Liverpool did not panic. Diogo Jota was on-hand to nod home an acrobatic assist from Federico Chiesa and the Reds never looked back.

In many ways it was Jota’s night at Anfield. And having been spotted celebrating his two goals differently to usual, the Portuguese offered an explanation at the end of the game.

Diogo Jota explains goal celebration

Jota has been a little quiet so far this season. After scoring Liverpool’s first official goal of the Slot era, the 27-year-old hadn’t found the net in four appearances since.

That all changed on Wednesday. Jamie Carragher hailed the ‘braveness’ of Jota to nod home Chiesa’s bouncing cross to equalise and his second finish was equally lethal.

Liverpool’s No.20 was then taken off just before the hour mark in preparation of facing his old team, Wolves, on Saturday.

And as it turns out, there’s more than one reason that Jota might need the rest.

READ MORE: Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones can’t stop laughing in interview after beating West Ham

Having been spotted sticking the ball under his shirt and sucking his thumb after scoring Liverpool’s first of the night, the forward confirmed to LFCTV after the match that the celebration was a tribute to his girlfriend who is expecting the couple’s third child.

“My girlfriend is pregnant again and it’s almost time,” smiled Jota. “I’m happy outside of the pitch because of that.

“For the third time, it’s coming quick and fast! But I’m enjoying it, it’s the most important.”

Arne Slot admits he’s protecting Diogo Jota

It was a little bit of a surprise to see Jota head off the pitch relatively early into Wednesday’s game.

On a hat-trick, the former Wolves man also did not play a single minute during Saturday’s win against Bournemouth.

However, speaking in his post-match press conference, Slot explained that he was trying to protect the notoriously injury prone Jota from playing too many minutes too early in the campaign.

“I think we are trying to manage his minutes like the others in the best possible way,” said the Liverpool head coach.

“But we also try to prepare them during the week and during the first months of pre-season to prepare them for so many games in the Premier League.”

All the best for the rest of the pregnancy, Rute and Diogo!