Diogo Jota has heaped the pressure on Manchester United ahead of their Super Sunday showdown at Anfield - insisting Erik Ten Hag's side must win if they want to be taken seriously as Premier League title contenders.
The Old Trafford outfit are currently third in the Premier League, 14 points behind league leaders Arsenal, after a strong start to 2023 and after sealing League Cup glory with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at Wembley last week, they head to Anfield looking to claim their first win on the red side of Stanley Park since January 2016.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will be hoping to dent Ten Hag's side's chances of claiming an unlikely four-peat, with a defeat on Merseyside all but certain to end their chances of landing a first Premier League title in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
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Speaking ahead of Sunday's clash, Jota, who made consecutive starts for the Reds for the first time since October last time out, insists dropped points at the stage of the season would be damaging for the Red Devils.
“If they really believe they can win the Premier League, then losing points isn't really an option. It will be a hard knock for them, but they are still involved in a lot and they have had a really tremendous season after a shaky start," said the Reds' No.20, speaking to the Mirror.
“We believe it can be a big game and hopefully we can win. It will be a big one, for sure. If we win it will give everyone a bit more respect for our momentum - and that's what we will try to do.
“It is like one of the biggest games in the Premier League, especially for the fans. And it comes at the right moment for us - if you can say that in this season. We are ready to give it a go, but it won't be easy at all.”
The Portugal international is in line to feature in some capacity on Sunday, having endured a nightmare stop-start season plagued by injuries. Jota suffered a hamstring injury in Portugal's Nations League campaign during the summer, before reactivating the issue upon his return to the Liverpool squad in the summer.
And even after making his comeback in September, the 26-year-old suffered a calf injury during the 1-0 victory over Manchester City in mid-October and was later ruled out of action for fourth months and missed the 2022 World Cup.
However, after making his return in the Merseyside derby last month, the forward insists he has the belief of his manager and can help the Reds qualify for next season's Champions League despite not finding the back of the net since April 2022.
“Even when I was injured, he (Klopp) is the kind of manager who gives you confidence and belief, he added. “I know he trusts me and I have tried to deliver on the pitch. It has not been easy being out for so long and expecting to get my rhythm back. Against Wolves, I was able to get an assist. That is what the attacking players want - to get involved in goals.
“Of course, we can finish in fourth place. It's not something that we would have wished for at the beginning of the season, but it's more realistic now and the thing we can fight for.”
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