Diogo Jota Targets Premier League Title Challenge with New-Look Liverpool
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Diogo Jota has set his sights on challenging for the Premier League title next season as part of a new-look Liverpool team. The Portuguese forward believes an uninterrupted year can see him return to the sort of form he enjoyed in 2021/22 when he scored a career-best total of 21 goals.
Jota ended the season strongly, registering seven goals in his final nine appearances as Liverpool went 11 games unbeaten to finish in fifth. But his campaign was heavily impacted by two serious injuries suffered in July and October, which sidelined him for a combined total of around six months.
The former Wolves man is now looking ahead to a full pre-season schedule and is hoping to put his injury woes behind him. In an interview with , Jota said: “In the last few years, we have always been there [near the top] – three seasons with over 90 points, which is incredible. Not to win the league with so many points is even more incredible. So, I think our target needs to be that: to do better than the season we’ve just had, for sure, and be fighting for titles.
“You always need to refresh the squad with new players. That’s what we’ve done, and if we stick together for a long time, things will get better. In the season we’ve just had, we weren’t there – it’s the truth – but hopefully that was hitting the bottom and we can bounce back and try to fight for titles again.
“The season before last was very successful – almost the most successful ever in English football – and for me it was great as well. I was so happy that Liverpool offered me a new deal (last summer) and I could commit myself to the club for a long period of time.
“I know they trust me and that’s important: to know that you’re in a stable place, with people who give you the confidence to go out on to the pitch and produce excellent performances. This summer, I want to get through a proper pre-season, then hopefully have a great season.”
Jota is currently on international duty with Portugal and will be part of the squad that flies out to Germany for a pre-season training camp in mid-July before taking part in friendlies against Leicester City and Bayern Munich in Singapore later that month.
The 24-year-old is confident that Liverpool have the quality to challenge for the Premier League title next season and believes an uninterrupted year could help him reach peak form. If the Reds can add a few more signings and make the most of their pre-season preparations, there is no reason why they cannot mount a serious title challenge.
