BREAKING NEWS: Liverpool star has failed to turn up for training and won’t play against Lille tomorrow. ️

Liverpool fans are still buzzing from the thrilling victory over Brentford, but ahead of the clash with Lille, injury concerns have emerged.

During the open training session, James Pearce reported: “No Diogo Jota in open training today. Joe Gomez also still absent.”

This likely means both players will be unavailable for Tuesday night’s game against the French side. Joe Gomez’s absence isn’t surprising, as his hamstring injury was expected to be a long-term issue. On the other hand, Diogo Jota’s absence is a significant setback for fans.

There had been some optimism about Jota’s potential return following Arne Slot’s comments after the game at Brentford, but his failure to train the day before a Champions League fixture suggests it’s unlikely. While Darwin Núñez seized the opportunity to shine in Jota’s absence, having the Portuguese forward fit and available remains a priority.

Jota’s history of longer-than-expected recoveries adds to the frustration, and another extended spell on the sidelines would be a blow. Fortunately, with Liverpool in a strong position in Europe, there’s no need to rush his return. However, it would have been encouraging to see the 28-year-old back in training.