Arne Slot shares timeframe on Diogo Jota injury at Liverpool
Arne Slot has revealed Liverpool are expecting Diogo Jota to return from injury “one or two weeks” after the international break.
The 27-year-old had been believed to be on course to return in the week commencing international football but is now likely to miss the crucial double header against Real Madrid and Manchester City.
Slot delivered the gut-wrenching blow in his pre-match press conference [8 November] ahead of the clash against Aston Villa at Anfield [9 November] in yet another major injury setback for the Reds.
He said: “We expect him back after the break. The first weeks after the break. I always say there is privacy about the injury. He will be back one or two weeks after the break.”
Diogo Jota will need to hit the ground running at Liverpool
While Jota may have left the first team frame at Liverpool as the undisputed centre forward, he will undoubtedly face a fight to reclaim his place in the side following his return.
Luis Diaz shocked the world when deployed through the middle against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday [5 November] as the Colombian scored his first hattrick for the club in a dominant 4-0 win at Anfield.
The 27-year-old and Cody Gakpo have fought for a place on the left flank throughout the season but now Slot has found a way to integrate his three best forwards into the same lineup.
Darwin Nunez remains an option of course, but the Uruguayan has since regressed under Slot this year, as he continues to look further apart from the forward Jurgen Klopp believed he was signing in 2022, his seat in the dugout will be warm this season.
However, Jota remains the most clinical finisher in the attacking ranks – while he is fit – he will always have a place in this Liverpool side however, he has far too much trouble keeping fit.
Therefore, he will miss the two biggest matches in the Reds’ calendar, in yet another of a long line of injury setbacks that have plagued his Anfield career – perhaps it is time to either commit to Diaz through the middle or begin seeking alternative options in preparation for the summer transfer window.
In other Liverpool news, Kostas Tsimikas throws a spanner into Arne Slot’s transfer plans after what he did for the Reds against Bayer Leverkusen.
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