Arne Slot has revealed that Diogo Jota is facing another injury setback and is not expected to lead the line-up for Liverpool's Carabao Cup game against Southampton on Wednesday night.
Despite scoring in his return to rescue a point against Fulham following a near two-month absence due to a rib injury, Jota may not be at peak condition.
"Diogo would have definitely been one that would have been ideal for him to play, but after the game on Saturday, he wasn't completely fit so he didn't train with us yesterday," Slot explained. "Let's see if he can train with us today, but I don't expect him to start. Hopefully, he can make some minutes, but don't expect him to start."
The Portuguese striker's situation is a considerable blow given he's considered Liverpool's top finisher. The prospect of him missing out on what could have been ideal playing time is troubling for the squad.
Furthermore, with Kostas Tsimikas likely to resume training before the Southampton match, there's hope he might get playing time as well. This update comes as Liverpool grapples with defensive challenges; three defenders are either injured or doubtful, not to mention Andy Robertson's suspension.
Slot expressed his wish to have Tsimikas, the Greek left-back, available to bolster the team at St Mary's. Slot also confirmed that Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley are still sidelined, with neither back in training. "Kostas is coming close," he noted. "He's going to train with us today, maybe for the first time. Let's see how that works out. Conor and Ibou are still not training."
The gaffer also intends to give Federico Chiesa some game time after his return to the squad against Fulham. Despite only three appearances this season, the last against West Ham in the Carabao Cup in September, Slot is cautious about Chiesa's comeback due to his prolonged absence.
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"It's definitely a moment where he can get minutes," Slot said. "The amount of minutes is a question mark. You cannot expect him to play 90, especially at this level where the intensity is so high because he has been out for five or six months now.
"But he will, if has a good training session, get minutes. It will be a game where all our starters won't start so we have to manage minutes. If we want to use a few starters, it will not be for 90 minutes.
"I can only make five substitutions. He will make minutes tomorrow - whether he starts or comes in to play the second half, it's something we have to make a decision about."
In addition, Slot plans to start Caoimhin Kelleher and Wataru Endo while aiming to rest as many key players as possible. The Dutch manager is set for a spell away from the touchline as he serves a one-match ban after racking up three yellow cards, and he's expressed relief that the English rules are more lenient compared to those in the Netherlands.
"It won't impact me as much as I thought it would, because if you're suspended in Holland, then you're not allowed to be in and around the dressing room," he remarked. "You cannot do the media as well.
"So this is a lighter version of the suspension that I'm used to. I've never been used to being suspended, so it's the first time. I think I'm still able to do the things I want to do."
"The moments you have less impact on your team is during the 45 minutes, and the most impact you can have is at half-time or before the game, and those are the things I can do. But an ideal situation, I would be on the sidelines, but I got a yellow, which I probably deserved."