‘REDS READY TO REACH TOP’

“We need to keep improving because I think I didn’t reach my prime yet. Hopefully during the duration of my stay here I’ll do that.”

Jota believes his new deal after just two seasons at the club shows how much he has improved and how important he is to this Liverpool side.

He said:“Since I arrived at Liverpool I have established myself as an important player in this team — that’s what I wanted from the beginning.

“Now, signing a new long-term deal, it’s from the club’s perspective proof of the belief in myself as a player.

“For me, it’s really good to establish I’ll be here for a while.

“So, the beginning of a new season, let’s do it.”

Consider

Liverpool have tied down a forward they consider a big part of their future as he can play in numerous roles in attack.

Kop boss Jurgen Klopp, has also been impressed by Jota, who has surpassed expectations of the player they signed from Wolves and continues to improve.

Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward is understood to have conducted negotiations with

Jota’s agent Jorge

Mendes over the summer.

Jota is set to miss the start of the new season as he battles a hamstring injury but the hope is he returns to training in the next fortnight.

And he is eager to return to help Liverpool in their quest for trophies.

He added: “Unfortunately for me I had an upset in this pre-season because I got injured (in the) last game of the season playing with Portugal.

“So I was coming back in this preseason, and I felt it a little bit again.

“It will be a few more weeks, I would say.”

Season

Jota helped Liverpool win the FA Cup and League Cup last season, while they finished second in the Premier League just a point behind Manchester City and reached the Champions League final, which they lost to Real Madrid.

“What Diogo has brought to this team and this club since he arrived is there for all to see, so it is really good news that he has signed a new contract,” said

Klopp.

“I have said before that Diogo is the player we hoped he would be but also a little bit better, so long may this continue.”

Jota joins team mates Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson, Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho in committing his long-term future to the club. just want to do it again and to do it better, because it’s possible,” he said.

“That drive is in me and I know it’s in my teammates and all the staff. “We have everything to fight for those titles out there.”

Klopp’s men won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last term but fell short in their Premier League and Champions League quests

But Jota sees no reason why they cannot improve on that haul.

Close

Jota added: “Liverpool at the moment is one of the best, if not the best. We were close last year to winning the Champions League.

“That’s something all the players want. Hopefully we can give it a good go this year again.

“Everything is in place so it’s up to us now on the pitch.”

And Jota (25) believes his best is yet to come in red.

He has scored 34 goals in 85 appearances over his first two seasons at the club and he said: “I think I haven’t reached my prime yet. Hopefully during the duration of my stay here I’ll do that.

“Signing a new long-term deal, it’s really good to establish I’ll be here for a