A probable World Cup miss for Diogo Jota as the Portuguese picked up a calf injury this Sunday against Manchester City.
A calf injury might keep Jota out of the World Cup
In the final third of the match against the champions, Jota began alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino. Salah’s strike in the second half gave the Reds a 1-0 victory.
Jota had to be taken out on a stretcher late in the second half. It added to the home side’s already-existing fitness issues, therefore the game finished on a disappointing note for them.
Jota will have a scan on Monday to assess the severity of the issue in his right calf as there are now concerns that the injury is severe enough to put an end to his World Cup dreams. In Group H, Portugal will compete against South Korea, Uruguay, and Ghana. While Jota fans will have to wait and see what the report conveys.
The injury galore
Jota has gained 28 caps for his nation, scoring 10 goals and assisting nine more in the process. He has been a constant in the Portugal lineup for the past couple of years.
The 25-year-old has only completed eight appearances in all events thus far, recording five assists but going goalless. He missed the opening few weeks of the 2022–23 season due to a hamstring injury.
Owing to a busy fall schedule, Liverpool’s treatment room is already full. Jota is joined in the hospital by fellow forward Luis Diaz, who may not play for the Reds again before Boxing Day because of a knee injury.
Aside from Trent Alexander-Arnold, other injured players include Joel Matip (calf), Ibrahima Konate (muscle), Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Arthur (all thigh), although Trent returned from his ankle injury on Sunday afternoon.
An incident-filled match between Liverpool and Man City was ended by Salah’s goal in the second half. Phil Foden’s goal for Pep Guardiola’s team was disallowed due to a shirt pull on Fabinho by Erling Braut Haaland.
In the last moments of the game, Bernardo Silva made a similar charge on Salah directly in front of the linesman but got away with it. Klopp yelled at the official and got himself sent out.
The Merseyside team’s 1-0 victory was tainted by incidents of crowd trouble. And the German has now acknowledged that his “over the top” behavior justified a red card.
