Liverpool forward Diogo Jota ended his 12-month goal drought against Leeds United on Monday and said advice from Cristiano Ronaldo helped him to do so.
The Portugal international found the net in the 52nd minute of the Reds’ 6-1 victory over Leeds before adding a second in the 73rd minute and understandably, he was ecstatic to bag a brace.
Jota has struggled this season after failing to maintain consistent fitness and form, however, he said Ronaldo’s words were key in ending his drought.
His compatriot allegedly told him that scoring goals is like ‘opening a bottle of ketchup – once the first drop comes out, everything comes out.’
Indeed, Jota proved Ronaldo right by scoring two goals in the same game for Liverpool, after making just his ninth Premier League start of the season.
When questioned on the ‘ketchup advice’ in his post-match interview, Jota said: “That’s one of the sentences Ronaldo said and it really stuck in my mind all these years.”
“I think football is unpredictable, and these are the things we like in this football game. Things can change very quick,” Jota told Sky Sports.
As noted by the Daily Mail, Ronaldo first used that analogy back in 2010 when he was going through his own 16 month goal drought on the international stage, in the run-up to the 2010 World cup.
Then, after finding the net against North Korea, the flood gates opened again.
Overall, Liverpool have endured a disappointing season, with Jurgen Klopp’s team currently sitting in eighth place in the Premier League table – nine points adrift from the top four.
The Merseyside club still have an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League but in reality, it seems very unlikely.
Jota has scored 36 goals in 105 appearances for Liverpool – and will have to find some prolific form if Liverpool want any chance of finishing in the top four.
When asked after the 6-1 victory over Leeds if the Reds’ believe they can still qualify for the Champions League, Jota added: “Yes and no.
“We have great results this season, great score lines – 7-0, 9-0.
“So, we have these results before but we just need to stick with our feet on the ground because the next one is a completely different game.”
Indeed, while Liverpool have handed out thrashings to Bournemouth, Manchester United and now Leeds this season, it has been their lack of consistency that has cost them.
The Red’s eight remaining Premier League fixtures come against Nottingham Forest,…
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