In a big run of matches for Liverpool, the Reds have picked up respectable draws with Everton and Aston Villa away from home. But the margins are fine – it could have been more.

James Tarkowski scored late at Goodison Park while Liverpool had multiple chances at Villa Park a week later. Arne Slot will at least be able to console himself with the fact that his team is eight points clear and has something of a buffer at the top.

In selecting Diogo Jota to start against Aston Villa, though, he might have given a hint as to what his plan will be for the next big game. That, of course, comes against a struggling Manchester City on Sunday, days after it exited the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.

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Liverpool is still being careful with Jota, and rightly so given his injury history. The Wolves game was his first Premier League start in almost four months, and while he was replaced on 64 minutes last weekend and then 66 minutes on Wednesday, it seems doubtful he would play from the start for a third time in eight days against Manchester City.

"He has a role like many others," Slot said during his press conference before facing Aston Villa. "He did so well before his injury and we have missed him for three or four months.

"We have missed the number nine who played the first seven or eight games in every game. Now he is back. He played 60 (minutes versus Wolves) and we don't expect him to play 90, 90, 90 this week, but we hope he is involved in three games."

It remains to be seen whether or not Cody Gakpo will be back for the trip to the Etihad Stadium or not, but Slot effectively confirmed pre-match on Wednesday that Luis Diaz wasn't picked from the off against Aston Villa so he was ready for that one.

"With Cody being out, Lucho had to play three games in seven days," Slot said before kick-off on TNT Sports. "And today again and Sunday again, and Wednesday again."

If Diaz can't do three games in a week, Jota certainly shouldn't be having not long come back from his latest injury setback. It was for that reason that Curtis Jones started on the left wing for the first time since his youth days against Aston Villa.

If Gakpo does return, Diaz could move into the middle again, even though he is less effective there. Darwin Nunez would be another option through the center, though he is yet to find the back of the net in 2025, missed an open goal midweek, and has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in the summer.

It is possible that Jota could be asked to do another hour, but there is Newcastle a few days later to consider as well. Given his injury record and the importance the Portugal striker could have in the run-in, it would be unwise to take any risks.

If Gakpo is still absent on Sunday, Liverpool's options will be limited. Going with Jota for a third time when he hadn't started in the league for so long prior to that, though, would be a major gamble.