Football

Jurgen Klopp delighted with return of ‘exceptional’ and ‘versatile’ player from injury

March 1, 2023 11:00 am
Jurgen Klopp delighted with return of ‘exceptional’ and ‘versatile’ player from injury

Jurgen Klopp has expressed his delight at Diogo Jota’s return, with the “exceptional” forward back on the pitch after a calf injury.

As per the Liverpool website, the manager is particularly pleased given how “versatile” the forward is as the club prepare for a busy period.

Jota has missed a large chunk of the current campaign due to the injury, with the attacker limited to just 12 appearances in all competitions.

But he has since returned to action, playing a part in his club’s last three Premier League matches as well as the recent Champions League encounter against Real Madrid.

Klopp delighted with Jota return

Liverpool have certainly not been at their best this season, with Klopp’s men currently sitting seventh in the Premier League table with just 10 wins from their 23 matches.

They were also dumped out of the FA Cup and League Cup early on in the domestic competitions, while a Champions League exit looks imminent after the round of 16 first leg 5-2 loss to Real Madrid. But the current focus is now on the league, with Wolves making the trip to Anfield this evening.

When asked how important it is to have Jota back in action, Klopp replied: “Very, it’s massive. Diogo is an exceptional player. The next one he was injured, stuff like this, and he needs to get rhythm now. I think it helped him a lot [starting]. 

“He will definitely be involved again if nothing happens. It’s a top-class player, so it’s great; versatile, he can play on the left wing, he can play in the centre and on the right wing as well. So, that’s really helpful for this busy period we are having.”

Klopp

Klopp ready for Wolves rematch

Incredibly, tonight’s fixture represents the fourth time in 11 games that Klopp’s side will come face to face with Wolves.

The clashes began in the third round of the FA Cup in early January, with that 2-2 Anfield draw forcing a replay at Molineux 10 days later, with Liverpool winning 1-0. The two clubs then met in the league in early February, with hosts Wolves running out 3-0 winners.

Asked whether or not it is difficult to prepare when playing the same team multiple times in such a short space of time, Klopp replied: “No. It’s not more difficult.

“We have the last games we saw them [with] different line-ups to when we played them. So, it’s a mix of the last information and information we had from our games. That’s pretty much all.

“It’s a bit strange but it’s not the first time. I think once when I’m here we had Arsenal where we played them twice in four days in different competitions, stuff like this. So, we all have that from time to time, it’s completely fine.”

Klopp will undoubtedly view the game as a must-win as his side look to climb the league table, with high-flying Manchester United up next following the Wolves meeting.

Another league meeting follows as Liverpool travel to Bournemouth, before a trip to Spain for the second round of the Champions League round of 16 tie.

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