Diogo Jota admits he has been suffering a "really, really hard" season as he described the immediate difference made by ending his long goal drought.
Jota ended a run of 32 scoreless games that stretched more than a year when netting Liverpool's third shortly after half-time in their 6-1 Premier League romp at Leeds United on Monday evening.
The Portuguese international then struck again having earlier helped the Reds take a two-goal lead before the break with a fine run and assist for Mohamed Salah to score.
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Jota was twice sidelined for lengthy periods during the last 12 months, first with a hamstring issue and then a serious calf complaint that cost him his place at the World Cup.
And asked if such a long wait for a goal had affected his confidence, the forward admitted: "Yeah, I think it was a bit of last season as well, I didn’t score in the last few games.
"This season is really, really hard, struggling with injuries. Now I’m trying to get that momentum and games like this will certainly help for that. It was a great feeling (to score). Obviously as a forward I want to score, not only assist, as I’ve been doing this season. And hopefully I can carry on this form.
"It’s part of football, you try to always believe in yourself but obviously when you do get the goal everything becomes easier in a player’s mind. So, we just need to take advantage of the moment because it’s really hard to achieve that."
Liverpool still remain in eighth place in the Premier League table, nine points adrift of the top four and with a scrap to ensure at least European qualification given the impressive form of the likes of Aston Villa and Brighton.
And Jota has urged Jurgen Klopp's side to build on the momentum of their biggest-ever win at Elland Road in the league against Leeds.
Speaking to liverpoolfc.com, he said: "I think this season we had great results, great wins and we didn’t really follow that. So hopefully this time we can go on a run and win pretty much all the games.
"We need to believe. While it’s possible, we need to believe. But we can only do that by winning games. Certainly, (Monday) was a step in the right direction."
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