Getty Images
Tottenham Hotspur host Liverpool in a huge Premier League contest on Sunday
Liverpool striker Diogo Jota missed training on Monday just days after returning from injury in a fresh concern for the Merseyside club ahead of the busy festive period. The Portugal international limped out of Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Chelsea in mid-October and only returned to action against Fulham over the weekend.
The forward came off the bench to score for 10-man Liverpool as they drew 2-2 with the Cottagers at Anfield on Saturday afternoon. Their next Premier League game is a trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday but they first face Southampton in the last eight of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Providing an update on the player, Liverpool boss Arne Slot said on Tuesday: "Diogo would have been definitely one that it was ideal for him to play, but after the [Fulham] game he wasn't completely fit, so he didn't train with us yesterday. Let's see if he can train with us today. Don't expect him to start. Hopefully he can make some minutes, but don't expect him to start tomorrow."
Jota has five goals and two assists in 11 Liverpool appearances this season. He has played Tottenham six times in the Premier League - twice as a Wolves player and four times since joining Liverpool - with three goals and one assist against the North London club. The Reds are also likely to be without Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate against Spurs but left-back Kostas Tsimikas is "close" to a return. Slot added: “Kostas is coming close. He’s going to be training with us today [Tuesday], maybe for the first time, so let’s see how that works out.”
Sunday’s fixture could prove to be a huge one in terms of the Premier League title race. Spurs' rivals Chelsea have the chance to go top of the table on Saturday as they face Everton at Goodison Park. Victory for the Blues will move them into first place ahead of kick off in North London on Sunday. Only a Liverpool win will put the Reds back on top for Christmas Day.
However, Blues boss Enzo Maresca has been keen to play down his side's title credentials, as he said after Sunday's 2-1 win over Brentford: “No matter how many games we are going to win, I think we’re not ready to compete for the title. One of the reasons is I think the team that knows how to compete to win titles will not concede a goal like we concede. On 90 minutes, a throw-in for us and we concede a goal. A team that knows how to win titles, that goal they’re not to going to concede. It’s why I continue to say that we are not ready for titles. Even if you don’t believe me. I would love the pressure to compete for the title. But we cannot concede the goal we concede and open the game and give them the chance to take a point here.”
Continue Reading