'Quite different' - Diogo Jota makes Liverpool…

'Quite different' - Diogo Jota makes Liverpool admission as 'major obstacle' highlighted

Diogo Jota believes the Anfield crowd has a key part to play as Liverpool aim to take advantage of a "perfect opportunity" by challenging for honours again next season.

The Reds will conclude a disappointing campaign when they travel to relegated Southampton on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday.

While victory will not prevent Liverpool posting their worst Premier League away record over a full season under Jurgen Klopp, their home form continues to impress, with October's surprise 2-1 loss to relegation-threatened Leeds United the only league match the Reds have lost at Anfield in front of supporters since April 2017 - a run of one defeat in 97 such games.

And Jota is adamant the continued support of the home crowd was a contributory factor to Liverpool embarking on their strong end-of-season form that has raised hopes of a better 2023/24 campaign.

"To compare us with other countries, Portugal mainly, I think the support at Anfield is quite different," said the forward. "The situation we're in would be different (elsewhere) as people experience things differently.

"When we play at home, the atmosphere is always at a really high level. When we were losing 2-0 against Arsenal, for example, everyone got behind the team. It is massively important to have them on our side because we were 2-0 down against the top-of-the-league team who were full of confidence, but in the second half we could show they were not that good in the moment."

Jota added: "When everyone is together at Anfield, it is a massive obstacle to overcome. The fans' support of the team is permanent and if they have anything to say it will be after the game and not during it. During games they genuinely try to help the team and have an impact on the game. I have been to Anfield as an opponent so I know how hard it is to play there.

"Now it is for us to create new history from next season. We are a club that needs to fight for titles and next season we have a perfect opportunity to do that."

Since that 2-2 draw with Arsenal on April 9, Liverpool have taken 22 points from 24 while the Gunners, who were five points clear at the Premier League summit going into the game, are now seven adrift of title winners Manchester City.

And speaking to the latest Walk On eMagazine, Jota detailed the difference the Anfield crowd can make to the team. "It's about momentum and when you have the momentum it is hard to explain what it is actually like," he said.

"I don't think we are boosted and we can run faster than The Flash, it's just about a feeling things are going well and all the people in the stadium are on their toes supporting the team. We feel like we are unstoppable at that moment and the opponent feels exactly the opposite and that is why we can win games and have the advantage in those moments."

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