Diogo Jota injury worse than thought as Liverpool sweat ahead of Carabao Cup final

Diogo Jota injury worse than thought as Liverpool sweat ahead of Carabao Cup final

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota was forced off in the first half of the Reds Champions League win over Inter Milan on Wednesday night and now faces the risk of missing out of the Carabao cup final againstChelsea.

The Portugal international picked up an ankle injury in Milan, which threatens his chance of playing in the EFL Cup final.

An earlier report according to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp suggested that the injury “didn’t seem serious”.

However, a scan has shown the issue is slightly more disturbing than first thought, with the former wolves man ruled out of this weekend’s Premier League showdown with Norwich.

Although Liverpool are not ruling Jota out of the final at this stage, Klopp is ready to give him a chance in recovery to make the showdown at Wembley against Chelsea.

Diogo Jota in action during the UEFA Champions League clash at the San Siro before his half-time withdrawal through injury (Image: Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)

The League cup final is set for February 27, 2022 and the club’s second top scorer is still hoping he can be fit to play.

Jota faces a race against time, though, with the club’s medics getting straight to work on the ankle problem he picked up in the midweek game against Inter Milan in the Champions League.

He was replaced by eventual goal scorer Roberto Firmino after the halftime break, following assessment on the ankle injury.

Klopp confirmed afterward that the player had suffered an ankle ligament injury, but said at the time:

“Diogo had to go off with something around the ankle ligament. We will see, we don’t know exactly.

“He could have played on, maybe that’s a good sign, but at half-time, the ankle was swollen anyway so we knew we had to change.”

Liverpool have plenty of options upfront with, reliable Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, and in-form Roberto Firmino who put up an impressive second-half display against Inter Milan.

Luis Diaz, who also impressed against Inter Milan, with an energetic display has enjoyed a fine start to his Liverpool career.

Jurgen Klopp also has Divock Origi now back in full training after injury and Takumi Minamino – who has featured in every game in the EFL Cup and their top scorer in the competition.

In other news,(Video): Watch Virgil van Dijk dominant display for Liverpool against Inter Milan attackers in one-on-one situations