Jota’s been ‘big miss’ for Jurgen

By JEREMY CROSS

ON THE WAY UP: Jota enjoys his goal with Mane

IF Diogo Jota hadn’t sat out three vital months of the season, Liverpool may not have gone from champions to struggling to seal a Champions League place.

Boss Jurgen Klopp said: “It was a big miss. The moment he got injured, he was in a really good moment, which makes it even worse.”

It didn’t even look like Liverpool needed Jota when they splashed out £41m to bring him from Wolves in the summer.

Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane had fired the Reds to their first league title in 30 years.

But Jota immediately made his presence felt with a goal on his league debut against Arsenal.

Then came winners against Sheffield United and West Ham before a Champions League hat-trick against Atalanta.

“What does he bring? It’s quality,” said Klopp. “He can play all three positions up front. He makes us stronger, which is really good.”

Jota offered Liverpool an alternative rather than a replacement to the front three.

He provided that with a goal against his former club Wolves on Monday to get a vital three points and inject new life into the Reds’ top-four hopes.

“It’s really important we have him back, for plenty of reasons,” added Klopp.

Jota’s absence is one of the main reasons their title defence crumbled but he could play a big part in the rebuild.

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC is set to return for AC Milan tomorrow night in a bid to dump Manchester United out of the Europa League.

The Swedish superstar (left), is also hoping to play for his