Liverpool forward Diogo Jota is extremely unlikely to be ready to face Manchester United on Monday.
That’s according to the Liverpool Echo, who claim that Jota is ‘almost certain’ to miss the United game.
The 25-year-old has been recovering from a hamstring injury and won’t be ready in time for the trip to Old Trafford.
There could be good news though, as Roberto Firmino is reportedly ‘potentially’ fit for the game. Firmino would be Liverpool’s only available central forward, with Jota out injured and Darwin Nunez suspended.
Some returning faces against United
It will be interesting to see how Liverpool line up against Man United next Monday. There were one or two surprises in the team to face Crystal Palace last time out and that could continue.
Much will depend on whether those who sat out of Palace’s trip to Anfield are ready to return. After playing almost half an hour, the expectation would be that both Jordan Henderson and Joe Gomez return for Liverpool.
That will instantly give the eleven a much more regular feel to it. Naby Keita also must have a chance of featuring having been missing through illness and then spending 90 minutes on the bench.
Liverpool looking makeshift up-front for Old Trafford trip
It’s in attack where Jurgen Klopp has the most intriguing decisions, though. Both Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz simply have to keep their places. Should either get injured through the week there will be real worry going into the game.
But providing they’re fit, they’ll play. Klopp could even decide to go with one through the middle. Perhaps he’ll put Harvey Elliott wide right and Salah through the middle? Or maybe Fabio Carvalho on the right and Diaz centrally?
Whatever the options, the most preferable one at the moment would be to have Firmino in-between Salah and Diaz. It sounds like there’s still reasonable hope for that to happen.
As for Jota, his return can’t come soon enough. As Steve McManaman told BT Sport not long after his Liverpool debut, he’s ‘dangerous.’ Liverpool have missed his ability to put the ball in the net in the opening two games. In his absence a few supporters have likely remembered just how good he is.
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