Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has reflected on his return to Premier League action against Crystal Palace.
The Portuguese international started for the Reds in their drab goalless draw at Selhurst Park as he made his first start since October. Darwin Nunez was missing after a shoulder injury, which he suffered against Newcastle United, flared up once again.
Jota was forced to miss out on a childhood dream in playing for his country at the World Cup after he suffered a serious calf injury during the closing stages of Liverpool's 1-0 win over Manchester City.
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The 26-year-old showed flashes against Patrick Vieira's side as a stinging volley forced Vincente Guiata into a save before he hit the post from a narrow-angle with a header at the back post.
"It was just over four months since I played Man City at home, that was my last game, so I had to admit it felt strange - I was not used to playing Premier League anymore," said Jota, speaking to the official Liverpool website.
"But I felt good during the game, I had a couple of chances in the box and around, I just need to get my certainty back and I think that will come with more minutes and hopefully [I can] help the team with goals and assists."
The injury to the former Wolves man compounded a growing casualty list at the top of the pitch for Jurgen Klopp after Luis Diaz suffered a knee injury in the defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. His comeback was halted after a setback during the enforced break due to the World Cup.
While Nunez has had spells out of the side through injury, the prognosis of Jota's injury was described as "strange" and his involvement in the latter stages of the season remained uncertain. However, he now is focused on finishing strong as the Reds sit nine points off the top four with two games in hand.
"I had a strange calf injury," he added. "They said to me they hadn’t seen it before, most of the people, so we needed to ask for the help of some specialists as well to try to get over it, and of course to give it a bit more time because of the complexity and just to be safe.
"But yeah, it was very hard, a long time. The results, to be honest, didn’t help as well so it was very frustrating to see things happening and not be able to help in any way, well, apart from the dressing room talks but [not] on the field.
"But yeah, it’s over now, I am back and I want to finish the season available to start with and then obviously if I can help, even better."
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