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If the 2021/22 campaign saw Diogo Jota elevate himself into the "world-class" bracket in the eyes of Jurgen Klopp, then last season left Liverpool without a major star for far too long.
After registering two goals at Arsenal in January of last year to help the Reds reach the Carabao Cup final, Jota was singled out for some special praise from his manager, who gushed: "Diogo Jota [is] on fire.
Klopp: "We were completely convinced when he arrived at the club he would help us massively. Since he is here he has made another step, he has turned into a really world-class striker."
The Portugal international ended that season with a total of 21 goals across all competitions
For Liverpool, Jota represented something of the poster boy for how they would ideally like to operate.
Jota was badly missed when out for periods due to injury
First, a hamstring issue that was initially detected on international duty
It was the start of problems that would plague Jota on and off for the best part of six months
Jota was making just his second Premier League start when he suffered a serious and long-term calf injury in the closing stages of the 1-0 win over Manchester City on October 16.
It was an issue that wrecked his World Cup dream with Portugal and sidelined him for a further four months
By the time he made his first start, however - in a goalless draw at Crystal Palace in late February - the Portugal man had found himself in a team that was well out of any title race
His goal drought stretched past the year mark and it looked at times as though he was suffering with a crisis of confidence just as much as the fitness concerns.
He ended his 372-day and 32-game wait for a goal in Liverpool colours with a well-taken curl beyond Ilan Meslier from Curtis Jones's pass in the second half.
A last-day brace in the 4-4 draw with Southampton saw him bring his 30th and 31st goals in the Premier League for Liverpool and how the Reds' season might have panned out differently had they had Jota fit throughout -
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