itstargetnews
Liverpool manager Arne Slott has confirmed that he expects Diogo Jota to be sidelined for weeks rather than months.
The Portuguese forward scored a crucial equalizer for Liverpool They recently drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest At The City Ground – his fifth Premier League goal of the season – and had several chances to win the game after coming on as a second-half substitute.
The 28-year-old, a £45m signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers in September 2020, has netted 64 times in 164 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool, but has spent ten separate spells during his time on Merseyside.
He ruled out a dramatic weekend 2-0 win against Brentford – a game which saw Darwin Nunez score twice in stoppage-time – and Slott has confirmed that Jota will not be fit for the clash against Lille Champions League on Tuesday.
“Maybe Jota (will come back) a bit earlier than (Gomez),” the Dutchman told reporters. “They are both expected to be back with us within weeks rather than months.
“But I have said many times before that the last phase of rehabilitation is the most difficult, or that sometimes it can add a few days or not. It is clear that we hope that they will be back with us. Next weeks.
“It’s always hard to say how long. Both of them won’t be out for months, that’s for sure, as long as the rehab goes according to plan.”
Slott then confirmed that Jota’s latest issue is muscle-related, a common theme throughout his Liverpool career. The 28-year-old missed 12 games in a nearly two-month period between October and December with the same problem, easing his way back into the team as a substitute before Accrington scored in the FA Cup third-round win over Stanley.
Liverpool Nunez is expected to start up front in midweek, but all have secured their place in the knockout stages of the revamped Champions League.
