Diogo Jota injury: Progress & potential return date for Liverpool forward
The explosion of emotion around Anfield at around 6.30pm last Sunday afternoon captured the full scope of the human condition.
Tottenham's players crumpled in a heap of sinking devastation, Jurgen Klopp charged towards the fourth official with a violent concoction of rage and joy while Diogo Jota lowered himself into a seated celebration wincing in pain.
Liverpool's royally in-form forward had just scored a stoppage-time winner in a 4-3 victory over Tottenham but couldn't mask the discomfort he felt while bending his knees.
With Liverpool set to host Fulham on Wednesday night as they hold on to the faint hope of qualifying for the Champions League, here's everything you need to know about the availability of a striker with five goals in his last four games.
Read the latest Liverpool news here
feed
What injury has Diogo Jota got?
Jota appears to be carrying a myriad of problems all over the body. Jurgen Klopp detailed the damaged his forward has sustained over recent matches ahead of Liverpool's meeting with tenth-placed Fulham.
"He got, in the West Ham game, a knock in the back," Klopp outlined, "A bruised rib, could not train before the [Tottenham] game but could play without an injection or whatever, but got another knock immediately when he came on."
Klopp also went on to reveal that Jota did not participate in Liverpool's training on Monday or Tuesday after Sunday's victory over Spurs.
What Liverpool games will Diogo Jota miss?
Klopp remained coy on the severity of Jota's various bumps and bruises. "He is a doubt at least," the German manager offered. "But I hope he can recover until tomorrow [Wednesday] night."
Jota missed 11 Premier League games on either side of the World Cup with a nagging calf injury. To avoid another lengthy layoff, especially with just five matches of the current campaign remaining, there is the distinct possibility that Klopp will not risk rushing Jota into action against Fulham on Wednesday.
The Reds host Brentford on Saturday. Jota was sidelined when the upwardly mobile west London outfit bullied Liverpool in a 3-1 victory at the start of the year and faces a race against time to feature in the rematch.
Liverpool's upcoming fixture list
Date/Kick-Off Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
03/05/23 - 20:00 | Liverpool vs Fulham |
06/05/23 - 17:30 | Liverpool vs Brentford |
15/05/23 - 20:00 | Leicester vs Liverpool |
20/05/23 - 15:00 | Liverpool vs Aston Villa |
28/05/23 - 16:30 | Southampton vs Liverpool |
Who could replace Diogo Jota?
The forward line is one area of the pitch where Liverpool are actually blessed with strength in depth. Jota lined up on the bench against Tottenham as Luis Diaz made his first start since October after recovering from a long-term injury of his own.
Captain Chaos himself, Darwin Nunez, is another option for the position - although, Diaz made a strong case for his inclusion by scoring during Liverpool's first-half blitz.
Klopp did confirm that Roberto Firmino is not yet ready to return against Fulham but Cody Gakpo has grown into the role of Liverpool's withdrawn forward. Leading scorer Mohamed Salah has started all but one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season, a streak he is expected to extend from the right wing this midweek.
On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth discuss Chelsea's likely appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, the carnage at Tottenham and Harry Kane's next steps, David de Gea and Harry Maguire's Man Utd futures, Lionel Messi's impending Barcelona return & more!
If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!