Liverpool handed major blow as Jurgen Klopp rules 27-year-old star out of action for two weeks
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Diogo Jota will be sidelined for two weeks after sustaining an injury in a 3-1 win against Fulham.
Jota has only just returned to action after a long layoff with a ligament tear. The Portuguese attacker was on the scoresheet in the victory away at Craven Cottage on Sunday (April 21).
However, the Portugal international picked up a knock and Klopp expects to be without the forward for two weeks. The Liverpool manager said (via transfer expert Fabrizio Romano):
"Unfortunately Diogo Jota scored a goal and felt a bit — he will be out for two weeks."
It's a huge setback for Jota and Liverpool given their hopes of winning the title. They sit level on points with leaders Arsenal but have an inferior goal difference (8) with five games left in the title race.
Injury issues have plagued Jota's season but he's shone when available. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker has registered 15 goals and four assists in 32 games across competitions.
The Reds will be without Jota for their Merseyside Derby encounter with Everton tomorrow (April 24). Klopp takes his troops to Goodison Park for a vital clash with their cross-city rivals.
Diogo Jota bemoaned Liverpool's wasted opportunities in a shock loss to Crystal Palace
Jota made his first Premier League appearance since early February in a shock 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace on April 14. The Portuguese attacker was unable to help his side turn things around at Anfield.
The pacey winger touched on the Palace defeat after helping his side beat Fulham (via This is Anfield):
"It’s hard to say. Sometimes things just click. I think [against Palace], I’ve never seen something like that, where pretty much everyone had a clear chance and we all missed."
Liverpool's defeat was disastrous as they fell behind Manchester City in the title race. The Cityzens are third at the moment, a point behind, but have a game in hand over their two title rivals due to playing in the FA Cup last weekend.
The Merseysiders put their loss to Palace behind them with a fine victory away at Fulham. Trent Alexander-Arnold (32'), Ryan Gravenberch (53'), and Jota (72') were among the goals for Klopp's side while Timothy Castagne (45+2') had initially equalized. That was the Anfield giants' 22nd win of the Premier League campaign.