Diogo Jota says Liverpool are targeting a Premier League title challenge next term as the striker highlighted the importance of a full pre-season schedule following his injury-hit campaign.
And the Reds forward believes an uninterrupted year can see him get back to the sort of levels he enjoyed in 2021/22 when he plundered a career-best total of 21 goals.
Jota finished the season strongly by registering seven goals in his final nine appearances as Liverpool went 11 games unbeaten to finish in fifth. The Portugal international's year was heavily impacted by two serious injuries suffered in July and October, however, which sidelined him for a combined total of around six months.
The former Wolves man aggravated a hamstring problem on the pre-season tour of Thailand and Singapore in July and was absent until September before a serious calf injury, picked up in the closing stages of the 1-0 win over Manchester City on October 16, shelved him until February.
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Having gone over 12 months without a goal for Jurgen Klopp's side, Jota's double in the 6-1 win at Leeds in mid-April was the catalyst for a strong end to his campaign and the £45m attacker is now targeting a return to peak form going forward.
In an interview with FourFourTwo, Jota said: “In the last few years, we have always been there [near the top] – three seasons with over 90 points, which is incredible. Not to win the league with so many points is even more incredible. So, I think our target needs to be that: to do better than the season we’ve just had, for sure, and be fighting for titles.
“You always need to refresh the squad with new players. That’s what we’ve done, and if we stick together for a long time, things will get better. In the season we’ve just had, we weren’t there – it’s the truth – but hopefully that was hitting the bottom and we can bounce back and try to fight for titles again.
“The season before last was very successful – almost the most successful ever in English football – and for me it was great as well. I was so happy that Liverpool offered me a new deal (last summer) and I could commit myself to the club for a long period of time.
“I know they trust me and that’s important: to know that you’re in a stable place, with people who give you the confidence to go out on to the pitch and produce excellent performances. This summer, I want to get through a proper pre-season, then hopefully have a great season.”
Jota, who is currently on international duty with Portugal, will be part of the Liverpool squad that flies out to Germany for a pre-season training camp in mid-July before taking part in friendlies against Leicester City and Bayern Munich in Singapore later that month.
The full interview with Diogo Jota is available in the new issue of FourFourTwo, which is available in shops from Thursday, June 22.
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