RIP Diogo Jota: You'll never walk alone

Jota had been an unexpected Anfield icon. The vast majority of Liverpool supporters will openly admit that they weren't really sure what to make of the club's decision to sign the Portugal forward from Wolves late in the 2020 summer transfer window. Jota had looked a good player at Molineux, but the fee was an eyebrow-raising £41 million ($56m).

The fans feared they'd overpaid, but Jota had been on Klopp's wishlist "for two or three years". The German was convinced that the Portuguese was perfect for his style of play - and he was right. In fact, as Klopp later admitted, Jota turned out to be even better than even he expected.

With his versatility and incredible work-rate, Jota slotted seamlessly into Liverpool's starting line-up. This was an intelligent, industrious and multi-functional forward who would excel no matter where he was deployed in attack.

Consequently, Jota looked right at home on Merseyside from the get-go, becoming the first Red since Robbie 'God' Fowler to score seven times in his first 10 appearances for the club - a sensational start that featured goals in four consecutive appearances at Anfield.

By the end of November 2020, it was clear that the Kop already had a new idol. 'Jota the slotter' wasn't just a pressing machine; he was a wonderfully composed finisher too.

But then came the first of the fitness issues that plagued Jota during his time at Liverpool, with the attacker suffering a knee injury in December 2020 that kept him out of action for three months.

A fully-fit Jota showed exactly what he was capable of during the 2021-22 campaign, however, as he scored 21 goals in 55 appearances as Liverpool won the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup before finishing as runners-up in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

"We were completely convinced when he arrived at the club he would help us massively," Klopp told reporters in January 2022. "Since he has been here, he has made another step, he has turned into a really world-class striker. Mentality mixed with quality is the reason we signed him."

However, it felt like that every time Jota built up some serious momentum, his body would betray him. The 2023-24 season was a case in point; Jota made a flying start, only to be sidelined by a muscular problem. He then scored five times in his first six games after returning from injury, but made just one start during the title run-in due to separate ligament and hip issues.

The common consensus was that Liverpool's season simply would not have unravelled in the same fashion had Jota been to able to play - and that only made him feel worse: “You feel double frustration when results aren't good as you feel that you could have been there to help and maybe things would have been different. That feeling isn't nice at all."

By the middle of last season, it became painfully clear that Jota simply could not be relied upon to stay fit. But what he could still be relied upon to do was step up to the mark when Liverpool were in need of some inspiration. Indeed, the Reds' beloved No.20 played his part in title No.20.

In January of this year, in his very first game back after yet another injury setback, he earned his 10-man team a precious point with a late leveller in the 2-2 draw with Fulham at Anfield.

Less than a month later, he made an even more instantaneous impact off the bench against Nottingham Forest, heading home the equaliser with his first touch of the game. Further fitness problems almost inevitably followed, but Jota was available for the vital Merseyside derby against Everton on April 2.

For an awfully long time, it appeared as if the Reds were going to be once again frustrated by their city rivals, who had scored a 97th-minute leveller in their feisty clash at Goodison Park just two months previously. However, just before the hour mark at Anfield, Jota regained possession for Liverpool on the edge of the area and, after a one-two with Luis Diaz, jinked past two players before wrongfooting Jordan Pickford in characteristic fashion with a low finish to spark wild scenes of celebration at Anfield.

It would prove his last goal for Liverpool. And it came in front of the Kop.

In years to come that may serve as some small comfort or consolation to the fans, friends and family that absolutely adored him. Right now, though, there is still only utter devastation.

RIP Diogo Jota. YNWA.