Liverpool look likely to go into the new Premier League season with virtually the same squad that ended the last campaign.
The Reds have had plenty of turnover on the touchline and in the boardroom this summer. However, in terms of the playing staff, things are largely unchanged.
Following the news that Liverpool won’t be signing Martin Zubimendi, new head coach Arne Slot will begin the campaign relying on more or less the same players.
While that is no bad thing, it does mean that Liverpool are going to have to be a far sight better at managing injuries than they have been in recent seasons.
And according to legendary centre-back Jamie Carragher, one player in particular needs to take responsibility for his own injury record.
Jamie Carragher urges Diogo Jota change
Quite unusually, Liverpool are heading into the new season without any injury issues at all. Hopefully that is a sign of how the Reds mean to go on.
Sunday’s double-header against Sevilla and Las Palmas was a showing of just how deep the Liverpool squad is when everyone is available.
The first game, which saw Sevilla soundly beaten at Anfield, also showcased just how good Diogo Jota can be. Liverpool’s No.20 scored a pearling volley with what is supposedly his weaker foot.
And speaking to the Blood Red: Liverpool FC podcast, Carragher has urged Jota to give himself the best chance of staying fit by stopping going into ‘ridiculous’ challenges that he can’t win.
“The thing with Jota which is probably something we all love as fans is that he gives everything, he goes into every challenge,” says the Liverpool legend. “He’s got to stop going into challenges, he doesn’t need to!
“Even when he’s got the ball, there was one goal last year where he was almost tackling his way through. I love him, he gives everything but some of the tackles he goes into are just ridiculous, he doesn’t need it. It’s not his job.
“Sometimes I watch him play and I’m a bit like ‘oooh, just stay out.’ It’s just daft, you don’t need to. Use your brain a bit, you’ve had injuries.
“I’m not saying bottle out of a challenge but you don’t need to go flying into a big centre-back or a keeper flying out. If it’s not your ball just slam on, put the brakes on.
“He goes into challenges that I wouldn’t even go into! And then he comes out of the wrong end. He’s only a little fella, just stay out of it.”
Is Diogo Jota Liverpool’s starting striker?
It will be a relief for Jota that he has been able to come through pre-season unscathed so far. The £45m man has had issues over the past two summers.
Fortunately for him, he has been able to stay healthy and has led the line for Slot in the absence of Darwin Nunez.
As we head into Saturday’s Premier League opener with Ipswich, it seems fairly certain that Jota will be the man spearheading Liverpool’s attack at Portman Road.
Slot has earmarked a big role for Nunez, though, so it will be fascinating to see how the Dutchman handles that dynamic moving forward.
For now, you’d have to say that if Jota can keep providing finishes like he did on Sunday, then it’ll be hard to shunt him out of the team. In order to do that, however, it might be worth taking a leaf out of Carragher’s book.
