The return of Jota cannot be overstated. The Portugal international's Boxing Day comeback, at Burnley, was the start of a run that saw him register six goals before he was cut down while in red-hot form at Brentford in mid-February. The former Wolves star has 14 goals from just 18 starts.
Jota might have done better with a couple of presentable chances that fell his way on Thursday night but his failure to make more of the couple of headers were understandable given the rust that has accumulated during his near two-month absence with a knee injury.
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 11: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Tom Werner chairman of Liverpool Football Club during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Quarter-Final first leg match between Liverpool FC and Atalanta at Anfield on April 11, 2024 in Liverpool, England.
The Reds have lost only one of the 18 games he has started - in Tolouse back in November - and his shot conversion rate of 19.2, according to Opta statistics, is the highest at Liverpool since the 2010/11 campaign. In a contrasting with those currently at the club, Jota is posting a conversion rate of 25%, which the best of Klopp's sharpshooters.
The No.20 was desperate to ensure he could feature at the business end to make his mark for the Reds and see himself included in Portugal's European Championships squad this summer. Having missed the World Cup after a serious calf injury in a victory over Manchester City in October 2022, Jota is said to have worked overtime to regain his fitness.
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Liverpool have familiar Jurgen Klopp issue they cannot afford to keep repeating
How long it now takes him to regain top speed will be an important factor in what Liverpool are able to achieve going forward but his scampering, hard-working nature will be needed for the coming weeks. How they missed him in both games at Old Trafford, for example.
For Palace, they arrive on Merseyside without a win in their last 10 having suffered six defeats in that time, including last week's 4-2 loss at home to Manchester City. Only Brentford and Sheffield United are on a worse run than that presently in the Premier League.
The potential return of Michael Olise does offer hope for an Eagles side who will look to contain and counter but Sunday is a real opportunity for Liverpool to get themselves back on track for a massive few weeks.
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