Arne Slot believes Diogo Jota is now poised to offer a consistent contribution to Liverpool's season after his comeback from an injury suffered in October was carefully managed by the club's medical staff. Jota scored within seconds of his introduction as the Reds were held to a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.

After registering his eighth goal of the campaign to save a point for the Premier League leaders after Chris Wood's opener, Liverpool boss Slot was full of praise for Jota, who has just started one game since returning a month ago, and feels he is building up the sort of momentum that may see him picked to start matches more frequently going forward.

"He made a big impact already before, when he came in against Fulham," Slot said. "But after that game he had a bit of a setback, so the games he came in afterwards, I felt he needed a bit more time to get in his rhythm.

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"You see that with other players when they are out for a few weeks or months, it is difficult when you’re out to get this intensity going in these Premier League games immediately.

"It was pleasing to see him today and today maybe better than Fulham. He was the one apart from Mo Salah, who had the most chances to score our second goal."

Laughing off taunts from the Forest fans throughout the game, Slot added: "They sang for me? I didn’t notice it that much! I thought they maybe just liked the style of play my team had. This was a joke but you understood that.

"They were not only singing for me, they were also helping the team a lot. A nice stadium to play in, it is the first time I am here.

"They’re having an incredible season, it would be weird if the fans were booing the players. So they have been in a situation like this but not recently, so it is normal the atmosphere here is only positive.

"I wouldn’t say Forest are unique but they combine a playing style that suits the players really well, and I think this is the job of every manager: to try to find a style that suits your players.

"What makes it difficult - and we had this against Manchester United as well - was they played the long ball and they have so many good players for this.

"So firstly make sure you win the first ball and the second and third because they play the ball off Wood, who is a strong target man and they have quick forwards that can harm you. The moment you win the second ball there’s 11 behind the ball.

"So it's difficult to create against teams who play a low block. So difficult to create chances against teams like that. That’s why it was so disappointing to go 1-0 down because they could play their style even better, which made it difficult for us because apart from the players who I compliment, I also have to compliment the fans of Forest as well, they were really there for the home team and a big help for Forest.

"After 20 games you can judge the table much better than the first five or six games. I don’t think they’re here because of luck, every team has been hard for them, they’ve had a few difficult away games, they have played us twice, so that shows you they’re a team who can compete at the top end of the table.

"I also think most of their players have been available for the season, so it's almost the same line-up. If they can keep the same players on the pitch I see no reason for them to drop a lot of points."