“Did Jurgen Klopp blame me for his hamstring pull?” Yes!’ Diogo Jota on THAT goal celebration

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Diogo Jota’s spectacular late winner against Tottenham caused Jurgen Klopp to pull his hamstrings in April – and the Liverpool boss made his feelings about it clear the next day.

Klopp was injured during frantic celebrations following Jota’s goal in a 4-3 triumph at Anfield when the German also found himself in hot water for approaching the fourth official.

It was a celebration that Klopp later admitted he regretted – not that he could exactly blame Jota for the injury. Or could he?

“He did, actually!” Jota told FourFourTwo in an exclusive interview. “I can’t tell you what he said, but when he saw me the next day, he just pointed at me…”

No prizes for guessing which finger it was likely to be, although the swap was lighthearted – the Portuguese striker has established a solid relationship with his manager since joining Liverpool in September 2020.

Jota’s winner against Spurs came past the Kop, after the visitors had already fought back from 3-0 down, and ranks as one of his most special moments during his time at Liverpool.

“For me, it was a big moment,” he said. “I scored winners at Anfield in my first season, but there were no crowds. Everyone was like, ‘Oh, you just scored a winner past the Kop, it would have been amazing if the fans were there.’ I had to wait a few more years to get that feeling. To have that moment was really special – I’ll remember it for a long time.

“I didn’t even notice the manager getting injured at the time. When I got to the locker room I already had a few friends sending me the video link of him pulling his hamstrings after my goal. You can’t write a script like that. I think it didn’t bother him, because it was a key moment for the team. It’s a good story to tell!

Jota earned this winner wearing the new adidas X Speedportal boots, part of the Heatspawn pack, which also includes the Predator and Copa boots, available to buy now HERE

* Read the full interview with Diogo Jota in the new issue of FourFourTwo, in stores from Thursday, June 22.

More Liverpool Stories

Liverpool transfer news is intensifying ahead of two big summer rebuilds.

Bayern Munich’s Benjamin Pavard has been linked, while James Ward-Prowse is believed to be on the shortlist. Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga is a target and Nice’s Khephren Thuram is reportedly close to joining – but Manuel Ugarte is a star who wouldn’t move to Merseyside.

Liverpool are also battling Arsenal for the signing of Romeo Lavia, following Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.

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