Liverpool are in excellent form in the Champions League and aim to maintain their perfect record, though they’ll have to do so without Diogo Jota and Joe Gomez. Both players were absent from the public training session ahead of the European clash, confirming their unavailability for the final group-stage match at Anfield.
In his pre-match press conference before facing Lille, Arne Slot provided an update on their recovery timelines:
“Jota might return slightly earlier than Joe, but both are expected back in weeks rather than months. However, as I’ve said before, the final stage of rehab can sometimes cause delays. That said, we anticipate their return within weeks, provided everything goes as planned.”
When asked about Jota’s injury, Slot explained:
“He overloaded a particular muscle.”
While this isn’t as positive as his comments after the Brentford game, it does suggest Jota’s absence won’t be a lengthy one. Unfortunately, Joe Gomez and Diogo Jota, both familiar with injury setbacks, find themselves sidelined again.
Although their absence is frustrating, Liverpool proved against Thomas Frank’s side that they can still secure victories despite missing key players. Now, the team must show that resilience once more. A single point against Lille will ensure progression to the next round, but preserving their perfect record is a goal everyone at the club will want to achieve.
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