27y/o Liverpool attacker with 19G/A suffers fresh injury setback
Liverpool‘s title hopes suffered a setback with Diogo Jota ruled out for two weeks due to injury.
Jota started the 3-1 win over Fulham on Sunday and ensured the three points by scoring the Reds’ third goal in the second half at Craven Cottage.
The Portuguese international subsequently suffered an injury and will miss the Merseyside derby with Everton tomorrow. He will also be out for crucial run-in matches against West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.
When asked about fresh injury concerns at his press conference today, manager Jurgen Klopp said (via LFC’s website): “Unfortunately, yes. Diogo scored the goal, felt a little bit, and now we found out it’s a little bit more.
“He will be out for two weeks. Besides that, no [other new injury concerns].”
Jota’s start against Fulham was his first in over two months. He was sidelined with a knee problem, but the problem is his hip this time.
Jota will be a big miss for the Reds, especially in this crucial part of the season where the club needs all its attackers firing on all cylinders.
Liverpool’s second goal against Fulham, scored by Ryan Gravenberch, was their first in open play in almost 400 minutes of football.
Their profligacy in front of goal has been one of the reasons why the Merseysiders have slipped up in the Premier League title race, losing to Crystal Palace when they had created many chances to win the tie.
Jota had scored 15 goals and provided four assists in 32 appearances before his lengthy lay-off. He returned and showed Liverpool what they were missing against the Cottagers.
Klopp may be forced to rely on out-of-form attackers Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah, who both started the Fulham game from the bench, when they visit Goodison Park.