Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has been ruled out of Wednesday’s Champions League match against RB Leipzig after sustaining a chest injury during the Reds’ 2-1 victory over Chelsea.
Jota was forced off in the first half after a challenge from Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo. Liverpool manager Arne Slot explained the incident, saying, “He got a knock, as we all saw, when he was trying to go for goal and was brought down. That wasn’t the main issue, though. It seems the other player landed on him, and it hurt him enough that he couldn’t continue, and now he can’t travel with us.”
Slot noted that the full extent of the injury is still uncertain, adding, “It’s difficult to judge how long it will take, but it’s bruised.”
Jota joins a growing list of unavailable players for the Leipzig match, including goalkeeper Alisson, defender Conor Bradley, midfielder Harvey Elliott, and forward Federico Chiesa. Liverpool are aiming to secure their third win in as many Champions League games this season.
Chiesa, who has struggled with fitness since joining from Juventus, has featured just three times so far. Slot acknowledged the Italian forward’s slow adaptation, saying, “He missed an entire pre-season, and now he’s adjusting to a league with possibly even higher intensity than Serie A. That makes it tough for him to reach the intensity levels of the rest of the squad.”
The Dutch manager remained optimistic about Chiesa’s future, emphasizing, “I feel sorry for him, but he’s on a long-term contract, so we will see what he brings for us in the long run.”
Slot: ‘We Can Become Even More Dominant’
Arne Slot’s reign at Liverpool has been highly successful, with his team winning 10 of 11 matches since he took over. As they sit atop the Premier League and prepare for a pivotal clash against Arsenal on Sunday, Slot is still looking for ways his squad can improve.
Despite the positive results, Slot said there is room for growth, particularly in their ability to control matches. Reflecting on their recent win over Chelsea, he remarked, “You can’t ask for more in terms of results, but I think we can improve. Chelsea were more dominant with the ball in that match; we didn’t outplay them.”
Slot is aiming for greater control in high-stakes matches moving forward. “Ideally, I’d like us to dominate the entire game. We’re not quite there yet. But what I do see is a team fighting for every inch, especially against teams like Chelsea and Manchester United,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Slot hopes for even more commanding performances. “In the future, hopefully the near future, we’ll be able to face teams like AC Milan or Manchester United and assert more dominance than we showed against Chelsea,” he added.