Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Diogo Jota could be out of action for some time through injury.
Speaking to the press via Liverpool FC on YouTube today, Klopp gave an assessment of Liverpool’s injury issues.
“Ali (Alisson) trained today more than the day before. He will definitely be available for Fulham but not at the weekend,” said the boss.
“The same for Diogo. He was not here with us so how could he play a football game, that will take a while unfortunately.”
Good news and bad news, then. Hopefully Jota responds well to treatment and can be back sooner than expected.
Jota sweating on World Cup place
It’s so unfortunate for Jota to have picked up an injury at such a crucial time of pre-season.
The 25-year-old had worked hard to get himself fit over the summer before a reoccurrence of the hamstring injury he picked up with Portugal.
Now, he’ll have to watch on from the side-lines as Liverpool aim for a positive start to the season.
Judging from Klopp’s comments before, there doesn’t seem to be any danger of a particularly long-term injury. Jota should comfortably be back in time for the World Cup in November.
But it does mean he may be sweating on his place in Portugal’s squad. Jota’s nation aren’t short of attacking options, he can ill-afford a period out of the team just before the tournament starts.
More pressure on Nunez without regular goal-scorers
From Liverpool’s point of view they could also do with him back as soon as possible.
The £45m signing fell out of the side towards the end of last season, but he was still critical to their push for the quadruple.
Without the goals of Sadio Mane to count on, Liverpool could do with Jota’s nose for goal.
Darwin Nunez can hopefully help to fill the void, but it does add a little more pressure with 44 goals from last season removed from the team.
Without Jota, the onus will very much be on Nunez, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz to get the goals. They’re very capable of doing so, but we’ll miss Diogo all the same. Get well soon.
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