Diogo Jota injury latest as Liverpool forward absent from training
Diogo Jota is a major injury doubt for Liverpool's visit from Lille in the Champions League on Tuesday night after sitting out open training on Monday afternoon. The Reds striker was absent for Saturday's 2-0 win at Brentford after suffering a setback in Tuesday night's 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Jota, whose last Premier League start for the Reds came on October 20 when he was forced off injured with an upper body injury against Chelsea, was a goalscoring substitute at Forest last week, rescuing a point with his first touch, just 22 seconds after arriving after 66 minutes.
However, that cameo saw the Portugal international pick up another issue with head coach Arne Slot confirming on Friday that he was unlikely to be risked for the trip to Brentford. It had been hoped the former Wolves star could take part in Monday's session but after working away from the group as part of an individually-tailored session, Jota was unable to re-join his colleagues out on the pitches of the AXA Training Centre.
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It means Jota is almost certain not to be given the all-clear in time for the visit from Ligue 1 side Lille as the Reds play their first Champions League game for over a month on Tuesday evening. Slot will update further when he previews the game from Anfield on Monday afternoon but he will be expected to choose between Darwin Nunez or Luis Diaz for the No.9 position.
Nunez, whose two stoppage-time goals from the bench saw off Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, was part of the session alongside Diaz, while fellow forwards Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa were also involved.
Speaking on Friday, Slot was vague over the latest problem for Jota, saying: "There is no doubt about the fact Jota is an important player for us, but he wasn't on the training ground yesterday so that means we have to see today where he is [at].
"So, it is not sure he will be available for tomorrow. We have to wait and see today. He felt a little bit when he came in [at Forest], a little niggle during the half-hour he came in. He could finish the game, but afterwards he complained a bit about it and that's why he didn't train yesterday.
"We have to wait and see if he is available today and then, of course, tomorrow. I said this last week as well, 80 or 90 per cent of [the time] they do the same [things], but of course every individual has things he wants to improve or to prevent him from getting certain injuries that he maybe had in the past.
"Of course, there is an eye on him doing some individual work to prevent him from getting injuries, but that is not only with him, it's for all the others the same. There is a special programme for him, as there is for every single player - there is a special programme for every single player - but 80 or 90 per cent is the same for every player."
Joe Gomez was the only other absentee as the defender continues to recover from a hamstring problem he picked up in the first half of the 5-0 win at West Ham United on December 29. Jayden Danns, Trey Nyoni and James McConnell all took part in the afternoon's workout for the Champions League leaders.