Liverpool star Diogo Jota is reportedly at risk of missing the 2022 World Cup after sustaining a calf injury in Sunday’s win over Man City.
Jota began with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in the final third against the champions, as Salah’s second-half strike lifted the Reds to a 1-0 victory.
The game ended on a bad note for the home supporters, though, as Jota was carried off on a stretcher deep into second-half injury time, adding to their persistent fitness issues.
In his post-match press conference, Jurgen Klopp said of Jota’s condition, “Diogo, I wish I wouldn’t have to talk about it. I saw it on the side on the screen, I am the first who saw it.
“When I saw he goes down and there was not a lot of contact, you can see a little bit that somebody kicks his foot and maybe the muscle got overstretched, 96 minutes, that’s not good for the muscle. He felt it immediately and now we have to wait to see how bad it is.”
Diogo Jota Might Miss World Cup Due To Calf Injury?
According to The Athletic, there are now concerns that Jota’s injury is severe enough to derail his World Cup chances, and he will have a scan on Monday to assess the extent of the issue in his right calf.
Portugal will compete in Group H in Qatar with South Korea, Uruguay, and Ghana, beginning their World Cup campaign on November 24 against the African nation.
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Jota has been a constant in the Portugal lineup for the previous few years, earning 28 caps and scoring 10 goals and setting up nine more.
The 25-year-old missed the opening few weeks of the 2022-23 season due to a hamstring injury and has only made eight appearances in all events so far, registering five assists but failing to strike the back of the net.
Liverpool’s treatment room is already full due to the busy autumn calendar, with Jota joined in the hospital by fellow attacker Luis Diaz, who may not play for Liverpool again before Boxing Day due to a knee ailment.
Joel Matip (calf), Ibrahima Konate (muscle), Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Arthur are also out, while Trent Alexander-Arnold returned from an ankle injury on Sunday afternoon.
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