Mayhem, sizzles and magic: Best Diego Jota moments at Liverpool

Watching Diego Jota in full flow on the football pitch was reminiscent of the sport in itself. There was a swagger in his movements, hunger in the approach and the Portuguese winger would invariably be there where he needed to in crunch moments for Liverpool.

 

For the Anfield men, Jota's presence in the camp as a person was arguably as influential as his game on the pitch, given his infectious energy that kept him and the people around him buzzing. In a shocking development, Jota and his brother Andres Silva, passed away in a road accident in Spain during the early hours of Thursday (July 3).

 

 

Jota was barely visible in Liverpool's victorious 2024-25 EPL season due to injury but over the years, there had been enough moments of high impact that will forever be etched in the memories of Liverpool fans and the fans of football overall. Since his entry to the club in 2020, Jota had been an impactful figure for the Reds. He did have an influential career with the Wolverhampton Wolves as well, helping them famously gain promotion to the Premier League from the Championship.

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However, when it comes his legacy, Jota's biggest moments will arguably be with the Anfield side. As the footballing world mourns and pays its respect to Jota, let us relive his best moments in a Liverpool shirt.

 

 

The first moment of magic....

 

The first goal for a footballer, be it in his career or at a big club is always special. For Jota, that moment came in September 2020, just nine days after making the switch tO Liverpool. With just 11 minutes left and Liverpool leading by a 2-1 margin, Jurgen Klopp unleashed Jota who netted his first goal within minutes to virtually settle the game in the Red's favour. It was a powerful low volley from the edge of the box, rammed into the bottom left corner. Unfortunately for Jota, the COVID19 pandemic meant that the season was played in empty stadiums and he didn't get the fans reactions to the goals.

 

Jota's astounding wizardry

 

Arsenal were at the receiving end of an absolute masterclass of a goal from Jota in November 2021. It was a game that Liverpool won comfortably by a 4-0 margin but it was the Portuguese winger's goal that stood out. Having got the ball at the edge of the box due to a defensive error, Jota used his dribbling skills to sneak past a diving defender and also dribbled past the goalkeeper before putting into an empty net.

 

Puts the stamp on the UCL

 

Scoring goals in the Champions League is the pinnacle of any top-flight footballer and Jota went a few notches higher by registering a hat-trick in his first-ever season with Liverpool. Atalanta were the victims as Jota scored twice before half-time to give the Reds a dominant lead in the game. Sadio Mane and Mohammad Salah furthered the lead to 4-0 before Jota duly completed his hat-trick to give Liverpool a thumping 5-0 win in the fixture.

 

Comes up clutch against Leicester

 

In the 2021-22 season, Liverpool found themselves in a hole against Leicester, going 0-2 early in the game and 1-3 at half-time. It was a game that Jota didn't start but was introduced after the break as Jurgen Klopp went for the jugular. As he had done many times in the past, Jota delivered a crucial goal bring the deficit to one and Liverpool eventually ended the regulation time with a 3-3 margin, forcing the contest to penalties. It was Jota again who had the opportunity to seal a semifinal spot for Liverpool and he calmly converted the spot-kick to give his side a famous win.

 

Bullies his way past Arsenal

 

The 2022 Carabao Cup was a victorious campaign for Liverpool and Jota played an influential part in it. He relished the London sides as was evident from his displays against Chelsea and Arsenal. This fixture, the 2022 semifinal was the Portugese net a brace, a goal apiece in each half as the Reds cruised into the final.

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First taste of silverware

 

The 2022 Carabao Cup final was another penalty shootout that Jota was involved in, and he inevitable took the matchwinning spot-kick in this game as well. Just like that famous game against Leicester in the 2021-22 Carabao Cup quarterfinal, this clash also didn't have Jota in the starting XI. He came very late in the second half of an entertaining game that ironically ended 0-0 at regulation time. The penalties also went on forever and in sudden-death time, it was Jota's penalty that sealed glory for Liverpool.

 

Chelsea's deja vu moment against Jota

 

Not too long after the famous Carabao Cup win, Liverpool once again prevailed in a thrilling finale, this time in the FA Cup final and the game went to penalties once more. Guess who was there to haunt the Blues one more time? Jota! This time, he was on the bench to start with once more but came on very early in the first half after an unfortunate injury to Mohammad Salah. Another game that ends 0-0 and goes to penalties. This time, the shootout isn't as long as the previous one and Jota gets the responsibility to seal the title, and he does so with aplomb, completing a domestic double for the Reds.

 

Historic finish against Spurs

 

It looked like another comfortable win at Anfield on April 30, 2023 when Liverpool raced away to a 3-0 lead against Tottenham Hotspur in the first 15 minutes of the game. Mohammad Salah, Curtis Jones and Luiz Diaz had all netted to give the home side a thunderous beginning but goals from Harry Kane, Son Heung-min brought Spurs back into the game. When Richarlison netted the equaliser in stoppage time, it seemed like points were gifted by the Reds. However, in the dying seconds of the game, Jota seized on a moment of madness from the Spurs backline and unleashed a match-winning goal as Anfield exploded in joy.

 

Smashing past Everton

 

A brace from Mohammad Salah and a goal from Jordan Henderson along with a Jota goal ensured a pasting for Everton as Liverpool romped to a 4-1 win at Goodison Park in the 2021-22 season. Of all the Liverpool games that evening, Jota's moment stood out for the finesse in technique.

 

 

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