Liverpool’s recent victory over Chelsea was overshadowed by an unfortunate injury to Diogo Jota, leaving the club on edge as they await further details regarding its severity. The 27-year-old forward sustained the injury early in the match when he was fouled by Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo. The foul came under scrutiny as many believed Adarabioyo was lucky to avoid a red card, given that he may have prevented a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Despite receiving on-field treatment, Jota was unable to continue and had to be substituted just 30 minutes into the game.
Manager Arne Slot, speaking to The Athletic, expressed concern over Jota’s condition and hinted that the Portuguese international is unlikely to be fit for Liverpool’s upcoming Champions League clash against RB Leipzig. Slot’s comments have further fueled concerns that the injury could be more serious than initially anticipated, particularly if the worst-case scenario is confirmed by the scan results.
Adding to the analysis, football injury expert @physioscout, who regularly provides sports science insights on X, shared an assessment of Jota’s condition. According to the expert, the injury could potentially be a rib contusion or a rib fracture. A contusion, which refers to bruising of the rib area, would likely keep Jota out of action for a relatively short period of 1-2 weeks. However, if the injury turns out to be a rib fracture, Jota could be facing a much longer spell on the sidelines, with recovery potentially taking 4-6 weeks.
In the case of a minor rib contusion, Jota would likely be unavailable for Liverpool’s upcoming matches against RB Leipzig, Arsenal, and Brighton, but could make a return in time for the critical Champions League fixture against Bayer Leverkusen on November 5. However, if the injury is indeed a rib fracture, the forward could be out for up to six weeks, causing him to miss crucial matches during a busy and competitive period for Liverpool. This would include games against European giants Real Madrid and domestic rivals Manchester City, which would be a significant blow to both Jota and the team.
Jota’s potential extended absence would be a major setback for Liverpool, as the forward has already missed a substantial amount of playing time in the past year due to injuries. He has been unavailable for 25 games, making this latest injury all the more frustrating for both the player and the club. While there is hope that Jota might return in early November, the uncertainty surrounding the extent of the injury has left fans and the club anxiously awaiting positive news.
