On the fourth anniversary of Diogo Jota completing his transfer to Liverpool, our latest Kop 10 picks out his most memorable moments so far.
The forward’s move from Wolverhampton Wanderers was officially announced on September 19, 2020, and he has gone on to score 57 times and provide 20 assists in 150 appearances.
There have been some unforgettable goals and achievements along the way, both personal and collective, and here we have selected our favourite Jota moments to date…
First Liverpool goal
Jota’s first goal in Liverpool colours arrived just nine days after he sealed his switch to Merseyside.
Sent on as a substitute with 11 minutes remaining of an Anfield clash with Arsenal that the Reds led 2-1, the No.20 would soon start his scoring account and simultaneously end the contest.
A low volley from the edge of the box found the bottom left corner at the Kop end, though sadly without supporters to witness it due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“I think so [it was a perfect start],” he reacted. “It means a lot. When you arrive into a team that are world champions, you try to adapt as quickly as possible. The way they received me is exceptional.”
Hat-trick at Atalanta
What a way to announce yourself.
Jota had already netted four times for the Reds in his opening few weeks at the club, but a lethal display of finishing against Atalanta in November 2020 really had his new fans salivating.
The Portuguese handed Liverpool a two-goal lead before half-time in the Champions League tie in Bergamo, first running through to a Trent Alexander-Arnold pass, holding off the attentions of a marker and dinking the goalkeeper.
Next, he needed just two exquisite touches to control Joe Gomez’s lofted pass into the box and lash a fierce finish inside the left post.
After Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane had further enhanced the visitors’ advantage early in the second period, Jota wrapped up his treble and a brilliant 5-0 win by beating the ’keeper to Mane’s pass in behind and finding the empty net.
A brilliant dribble through Arsenal
Jota lists this one as his favourite goal of his Liverpool career to date, and it’s not hard to understand why.
Early in the second half of an eventual 4-0 Anfield win over the Gunners in November 2021, a loose opposition pass presents him with the ball at the edge of the box.
Four touches turn the gift into a goal as he dribbles around a sliding challenge, feints the goalkeeper and nudges into a gaping net.
“I think it was a good goal and everyone in the stadium enjoyed it,” he told us recently while picking it out as his No.1.
Blasting past the Blues
Liverpool’s most recent win at Goodison Park was an emphatic one – and Jota provided the cherry on the top of the cake.
The Reds powered to a 4-1 defeat of neighbours Everton in the league clash of December 1, 2021, with goals from Jordan Henderson and Salah (two) putting them in command across the park.
Jota then wrapped up a fine evening’s work with a typically concise – and frankly brilliant – piece of attacking technique.
In one fluid motion, the No.20 evaded his marker with a delicious flick of his heel from Andy Robertson’s pass into the area and then set himself before walloping a shot into the roof of the net.
That penalty against Leicester
The December 2021 Carabao Cup quarter-final with Leicester City at Anfield was an absolute thriller.
The Reds trailed 2-0 inside 13 minutes and 3-1 at half-time, with Jota one of three players sent on by Jürgen Klopp at the outset of a second period in which his team had a fair-sized mountain to climb.
Jota fired in at the Kop end to bring the hosts within one goal of forcing a penalty shootout and that materialised after Takumi Minamino equalised deep into stoppage time.
As the penalty contest went to sudden death and a Ryan Bertrand miss served Liverpool with a chance to prevail, Jota stepped up to nervelessly slam in his kick and celebrate memorably.
Sending the Reds to Wembley
It seemed to be advantage Arsenal when Liverpool were held to a goalless draw at Anfield in the first leg of the sides’ 2022 Carabao Cup semi-final.
And perhaps it was ahead of the return meeting at the Gunners’ Emirates Stadium a week later, which would decide the team to progress to the Wembley showpiece.
But, as you can tell from this list, Jota enjoys something of a hex over the Londoners – not least on this winter evening in the capital.
The forward struck once in each half – a low drive from outside the area followed by a beautiful chest-and-dink – to stun the Emirates and continue the Reds’ journey to lifting the trophy that season.
Carabao Cup joy
Jota was on the bench for the 2022 Carabao Cup showpiece as Liverpool locked horns with Chelsea at Wembley for the trophy.
But he was sent on in the 80th minute of what would eventually be 120 that somehow passed without a goal in an enthralling match.
Another penalty shootout ensued and once again Jota was a sudden-death taker, netting from 12 yards as the Reds ultimately prevailed 11-10.
Jota’s first piece of silverware with the club – and one he had made huge contributions to.
Completing a domestic cup double
You might get some déjà vu here.
Liverpool v Chelsea at Wembley in 2022, though this time it’s May and the Emirates FA Cup final.
Jota is among the substitutes, though this time is needed much sooner as Salah sustains a knock during the first half and cannot continue.
Two hours pass without a goal, penalties are required.
The No.20 takes responsibility of kick six for the Reds, has to score and does. Klopp’s men subsequently triumph and Jota and his teammates lift another domestic cup.
A sensational winner v Spurs
What was on course to be a comfortable win turned into a likely nightmare for Liverpool when Tottenham Hotspur visited Anfield on the last day of April 2023.
The home side had raced into a 3-0 lead within the opening 15 minutes of the league encounter, Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Salah netting to the delight of the L4 crowd.
But Spurs hauled themselves back into it through Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, and when Richarlison flicked in to equalise in stoppage time, Kopites’ heads were plunged into their hands.
Somehow, there was still chance for more drama, with Jota the coolest man in the stadium. Pouncing on an opposition miscontrol, he rifled a low strike into the bottom corner to grab back all the points in sensational circumstances.
50 goals for Liverpool
Having been sidelined for a month due to an injury, the recovering Jota had not expected to be involved when the Reds travelled to Burnley on Boxing Day 2023.
But a call from the medical department changed that plan, and soon enough he was not only at Turf Moor but taking to the pitch as an 84th-minute substitute.
Call it a Christmas wish come true.
Within minutes of coming on, Jota supplied the finish to Diaz’s assist to confirm a 2-0 victory for Liverpool and bring up a half-century of goals for the club.
“It was a crazy 24 hours, I was already at home when I found out I needed to travel back to join the team,” he revealed post-match. “I had some special people in the crowd today, my family came over for Christmas. I think it was the best Christmas gift for everyone.”