If his performance at Elland Road was a significant hint, then here came the final confirmation.
Diogo Jota is finally back in the usual groove for Liverpool.
Having ended a goal drought that extended for more than a year with his brace at Leeds United on Monday, the Portuguese once again found the net twice to inspire Jurgen Klopp’s side to an unnecessarily nervy three points against relegation-haunted Nottingham Forest.
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This time, though, saw the return of Jota’s trademark, the forward at last rekindling his reputation as the Reds’ ‘game-breaker’ by setting them on their way with the opening goal.
It’s a trait for which he became renowned during his early years at Anfield, particular last season when he notched first in 14 games. No other Reds player could match that.
Given Liverpool’s propensity for conceding first for large periods of Jota’s barren run, the absence of his usual contribution – partly through lack of form, mostly due to being missing through first a hamstring and then a calf injury – became somewhat noticeable.
But, buoyed by events on Monday, his most welcome characteristic returned at the right time for Liverpool as they struggled to break through an obdurate Forest rearguard.
Boasting 86% possession in the first half – rarely can there have been such a one-sided opening 45 minutes at Anfield in that respect – the Reds struggled to convert that into plentiful meaningful chances, of which Jota missed the most presentable when sending a free header wide at the far post from a matter of yards.
But it was a sign of the player’s improving self-confidence that he was able to shrug off that aberration with a quickfire double shortly after half-time.
The first, on 47 minutes, was a real poacher’s effort, reacting quickest to Fabinho’s header to nod powerfully home after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner caused confusion.
His second eight minutes, later, though, was that of a player bustling with belief when, having been left bizarrely unmarked by the Forest defence at Andy Robertson’s free-kick, he controlled the ball with his chest, took another touch with his thigh then volleyed into the far corner.
Jota, like so many forwards, has always been one to score in streaks. And with seven games remaining this season, there remains opportunity for him to make up for lost time.
Liverpool, though, will just be happy ‘the slotter’ is back. He has been missed.
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