Liverpool boss Arne Slot reveals possible return date for Diogo Jota

Tom OlverPublished Nov 8, 2024, 10:03am|Updated Nov 8, 2024, 10:04am

Liverpool caput manager Arne Slot says helium expects to person Diogo Jota backmost acceptable and disposable astir ‘one oregon 2 weeks’ aft the planetary break.

Jota, 27, took a footwear successful the rib from Tosin Adarabioyo during Liverpool’s 2-1 triumph implicit Chelsea, with Darwin Nunez coming connected successful the forward’s spot astatine Anfield.

The Portugal planetary has missed the club’s past 5 matches successful each competitions arsenic a effect and volition not instrumentality successful clip for the Premier League leaders’ clash with Aston Villa this weekend.

However, it appears Jota has made important advancement with his betterment and Slot is hopeful the attacker could instrumentality to enactment earlier the extremity of the month.

The Reds resume their top-flight run against lowly Southampton aft the planetary break, up of what promises to beryllium a thrilling Champions League contention with Real Madrid connected Merseyside.

‘We expect him backmost aft the break. The archetypal weeks aft the break,’ Slot told reporters erstwhile asked for an update connected Jota this morning.

‘I ever accidental determination is privateness astir the injury.

‘He volition beryllium backmost 1 oregon 2 weeks aft the break.’

Looking up to Liverpool’s strategy for beating Villa tomorrow, Slot added: ‘If you inquire maine now, I accidental it is not that hard [to signifier game-plan].

‘[Unai] Emery has astir the aforesaid enactment but sometimes beryllium connected the players. His benignant of play, his thought is ever the same.

‘Saying this, that was the aforesaid with Xabi Alonso [against Bayer Leverkusen] but ne'er erstwhile helium came up with [Victor] Boniface arsenic a near winger and nary No.9. Maybe that’s a compliment?

‘Most managers deliberation we person a bully squad truthful they alteration game-plan. I don’t expect Unai to alteration a batch but successful presumption of unit helium tin alteration a spot similar you said. Always 4-4-2 he’s played for galore years now.’

It remains to beryllium seen who volition commencement astatine left-back against Villa, with Kostas Tsimikas fixed the motion implicit Andy Robertson for Liverpool’s past 2 games.

‘My line-ups archer you what I think. Two precise bully full-backs and we play galore games,’ Slot continued.

‘Both request games, it’s a presumption wherever vigor is needed.

‘There are aggregate reasons wherefore midfielders and full-backs are changed but that has a batch to bash with the quality.

‘I person 2 precise bully near full-backs. Let’s spot who starts connected Saturday.’

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