'Super important' Liverpool player may have accidentally cost Reds the title

With much of the focus on Liverpool’s misfiring strikers at Manchester United on Sunday, it’s the absence of one key forward that has seemingly cost them more than the actual missed chances. The Reds blew a host of opportunities in their 2-2 draw at Old Trafford, a result that left them second in the Premier League table on goal difference.

Liverpool managed 28 shots against United, who only mustered seven in return. They also had 62 per cent of possession but were wasteful with Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Dominik Szoboszlai among those guilty of wasting clear opportunities.

Jurgen Klopp cut a frustrated figure afterwards, and would have been ruing the absence of Diogo Jota. The Portuguese forward has not played since February 17 after picking up a knee injury against Brentford, and his issue may inadvertently cost his side the Premier League title.

Jota, 27, has scored 14 goals in 18 starts for the club this season, and was awarded the league’s Player of the Month Award in January. He has proven himself to be by far his side’s most clinical finisher in the 2023/24 campaign, and Klopp would have longed to have him on the end of some of the chances his side created on Sunday.

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It’s not the first lay-off that the former Wolves man has endured this season either. After a month on the sidelines, he previously returned on Boxing Day to score in Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Burnley, and his influence was lauded by Klopp afterwards.

Describing Jota as “super important” to his team, the German added: “Diogo is a very smart footballer, he understands the game really well. He understands it on a different level, he sees situations slightly earlier to adapt quicker, he’s both footed and a great finisher.”

Since signing for a £41million fee in September 2020, Jota has struck 55 times in 141 club games. And he played a crucial role in Liverpool’s League and FA Cup double in the 2021/22 campaign, converting his penalty in both of their shootout wins over Chelsea.

And Klopp has not written off the prospect of his key man returning before the end of the campaign. Last week, he confirmed the star would soon return to full training, with the Reds still having seven league games to play.

The likes of Wataru Endo, Alisson Becker, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also expected to imminently return. Liverpool host Crystal Palace on Sunday, a game sandwiched between their two Europa League legs with Atalanta.