Liverpool pair Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones have been ruled out of the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea this weekend.
Both players were forced off early in the 4-1 win over Brentford with knee and ankle injuries, and scans confirmed they won’t be available for the clash at Wembley Stadium.
There is a silver lining for the Reds amidst the bad news. Jota’s injury, initially feared to be serious, will not keep him out for the rest of the season.
The report suggests he could be sidelined for 6-8 weeks, which is a more positive outcome than initial concerns about ligament damage.
However, it is still a massive blow, especially considering his recent form and the crucial matches ahead.
The Portuguese forward has bagged three goals and an assist in his last five appearances for the Merseyside club.
The 27-year-old was pivotal during the period when Mohamed Salah was away with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp faces a selection headache with injuries piling up. Trent Alexander-Arnold has also been ruled out for the Chelsea fixture. He has been struggling with a niggling issue.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker is also ruled out due to a muscle problem. He missed the Brentford game and missed the game against Burnley through illness.
Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip remain on the long-term absentee list.
There are also concerns about whether Dominik Szoboszlai’s hamstring issue and Darwin Nunez’s muscle discomfort will allow them to feature at Wembley.
Beyond the final, there are questions regarding whether the players will be available for their massive Premier League encounter with Manchester City on March 10.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City are the leading contenders for the title and the clash with the Cityzens could have major repercussions on where the trophy ends up.
Klopp would love to leave his beloved Liverpool with the cup and league titles, but he must do it without some key players.
