BREAKING NEWS: Two Liverpool players have suffered injuries and are going to miss the Champions League match vs RB Leipzig.
Liverpool’s victory over Chelsea on Sunday came with some bad news, as manager Arne Slot’s injury list grew following the game. Alisson Becker, Federico Chiesa, and Harvey Elliott were already sidelined, and now Diogo Jota is a fresh concern after limping off just 30 minutes into the match. Additionally, Conor Bradley was unavailable due to a knock he sustained while on international duty with Northern Ireland.
Journalist James Pearce provided an update on Liverpool’s injury situation on social media, revealing that Slot expects Jota to miss the upcoming Champions League clash against RB Leipzig on Wednesday. Pearce mentioned, “Arne Slot expects Diogo Jota to miss Champions League trip to Leipzig. Conor Bradley was absent today after picking up a knock on international duty.”
Although Liverpool has dealt with more severe injury crises in the past, such as last season’s troubles, these recent setbacks come at a challenging time. The Reds face a tough schedule ahead, with the away trip to a strong RB Leipzig team in Europe, followed by another crucial Premier League fixture against Arsenal. Bradley could still make the trip to Germany if he recovers from the minor issue that kept him out against Chelsea. However, even if he is fit, it’s unlikely he would start, particularly after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s solid defensive display over the weekend.
The expected absence of Jota poses a bigger problem, as he would likely have started in the midweek clash. Fortunately, Darwin Nunez’s encouraging 60-minute performance against Chelsea suggests he is ready to step in for Jota on Wednesday. The club is also hopeful that Jota will be back in action for the crucial match against Arsenal next Sunday, given the forward’s impressive track record against the Gunners, having scored eight goals against them—more than he has against almost any other team.
While missing Jota for the upcoming European match is far from ideal, Liverpool can take some comfort in having capable backups like Nunez to step up if needed. The club’s depth will be tested in the coming fixtures, but with key players performing well and the possibility of some injured players returning soon, there is optimism that the Reds can navigate this challenging period successfully.
