If a week is a long time in politics, it can sometimes feel like an age in football. Just ask Diogo Jota.
Seven days ago, Jota lined up for Liverpool at Leeds United without a goal for 372 days and was well off the pace for the first half hour. In what was his 32nd appearance since his most recent strike, Jota was guilty of conceding possession a total of 11 times in the first 30 minutes before his confidence returned thanks to his part in the Reds' second on the night.
Robbing Weston McKennie of possession with 35 minutes on the clock, Jota's subsequent surge deep into the Leeds half ended with an inch-perfect pass through to Mohamed Salah, who clinically dispatched the assist to give Jurgen Klopp's side a 2-0 lead in a game they would end up winning 6-1.
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It was evidently the moment that has transformed the Portugal international's season and he finally ended his year-long goal drought in the second half when he put the finishing touches on a sweeping move with a curled effort past Ilan Meslier.
Jota's second at Elland Road was indicative of a player with a renewed belief as he fired low, first time, beyond Meslier from the edge of the box after a pass from Jordan Henderson.
On Saturday afternoon, his two-goal tally for the campaign was doubled as he showcased his poacher's instincts to break the deadlock against Nottingham Forest before he finished with aplomb for the second after taking Andy Robertson's delivery into the box on his chest and then thigh.
If this is to be a watershed week for the versatile forward on the pitch, he credits his return to form to the changes made to his life off it, having recently became a father for the second time.
"I used to get really annoyed when things didn't go well and maybe we'd lost a game," Jota says. "When I arrived home I'd focus on the game and be frustrated, but now I arrive home and my [eldest] son is full of energy and very happy to see me. He doesn't know what is going on and why I'm not happy as I used to be so that was a massive opportunity to change things and to start to think different.
"For most people, family is the most important thing you have because you know they will be there no matter what. You have people you can count on pretty much in all circumstances so that is obviously a great thing to have.
"You need to find balance. For example, I had two days off and experienced spending the night with the baby, however today, as I've had training, I will sleep in another room to maximise rest and recovery time. As an athlete you have to be in the best possible shape to do what we do.
"One of the most important things for us players is rest and we have to manage things as best as we possibly can to ensure everybody gets their much-needed rest to be able to perform in their role. Mum also has support and we try to achieve balance with everything. As tends to be the case with a new-born baby, some nights are better than others.
"He's been really good and it's another joyful moment in my life. You have to enjoy every moment. It is my second time (as a father) with a very close gap between the two and I think it changes you a lot. It gives you a different feeling of why you are here in this world. It is a massive moment and it changes a person."
In the interest of fairness to the 26-year-old much of his 12-month run without a goal is owed to the fact that he has spent around six months of the campaign on the shelf with injuries. A hamstring problem, initially detected in June while on Portugal duty, was aggravated in mid-July on the club's pre-season tour of Thailand. His eventual early September return meant he had no summer schedule to build up any kind of base fitness.
A serious calf problem sustained in the closing stages of the 1-0 win over Manchester City would ruin his hopes of starring for Portugal at the Qatar World Cup and keep him out until February when he eventually returned as a second-half substitute in the 2-0 win over Everton on February 13.
"Is he finding form at the right time? Hopefully," says Virgil van Dijk. "But he has to keep it going for himself and also for the football club that he scores these goals. I think today (against Forest) we were a big threat from set-pieces and we trained on it a lot, especially Friday, so that is also a good thing to see."
With Luis Diaz now fit and ready once more and Darwin Nunez more than capable of performing off the left, it raises the prospect of where Jota best fits into the ensemble cast of Liverpool forwards who have a contrasting blend of styles.
His hard running and selfless work ethic have always helped throughout his career, as has his ability and willingness to play in a handful of different positions. But Nunez and Diaz's capabilities on the left afford Jota the opportunity to utilise his poacher's skills in more central positions, closer to goal. Playing down the middle is largely what allowed him to register 21 times for Liverpool last term after all.
"[The goal drought] was really annoying," Jota says. "Obviously I didn't want to finish the season without scoring a goal, so it was a great feeling to score those goals. You always try to believe in yourself, but obviously when you do get a goal everything becomes easier in a player's mind. A lot of people always gave me credit for being in the right position at the right time. It has certainly not been happening this season, especially now that I can have a few more games in a row.
"The stats tell the story but they don't tell all the story. I play up front so I know that I need to score goals but I also know football is a game that can change quickly. I once heard a story about Cristiano Ronaldo. He went a couple of games without scoring and people were asking him about it. He said he was playing catch-up and when the drought ends, the goals will flow. So hopefully that will be the case for me now."
For all the midfield issues that are taking up the headspace of Klopp before next season, what to do with his forward line is a much more welcome headache.
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