Liverpool’s win against Chelsea on Sunday was marred by an injury to Diogo Jota, leaving the team anxiously awaiting the results of a scan to determine its severity. The 27-year-old forward was taken down by Tosin Adarabioyo early in the match at Anfield, with the Chelsea defender narrowly avoiding a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Jota initially received treatment on the field but had to be substituted after 30 minutes.
Arne Slot indicated (via The Athletic) that Jota is expected to miss the upcoming Champions League match against RB Leipzig. If the injury is serious, he may face an extended absence.
**Potential Duration of Jota’s Absence**
Football injury analyst @physioscout provided insights into Jota’s condition on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting two scenarios: a rib contusion or a rib fracture. Rib injuries typically focus on pain management, with bruises healing within one to two weeks. However, a scan is needed to rule out fractures, which could lengthen the recovery time.
The analyst emphasized that rib injuries are very painful, which likely contributed to Jota’s inability to continue. If it’s a rib contusion, he might be sidelined for one to two weeks. Conversely, if a rib fracture is confirmed, recovery could take four to six weeks.
**Potential Impact on Liverpool’s Schedule**
Should Jota’s injury be a rib contusion, he would miss about two weeks, including important matches against RB Leipzig, Arsenal, and a double-header against Brighton. He could potentially return for the game against Bayer Leverkusen on November 5.
However, if he has a rib fracture, the situation would be much more serious. A six-week absence would mean missing several matches, including key fixtures against Real Madrid and Manchester City at Anfield. Losing Jota for up to nine games, especially against top-tier teams, would be a significant blow for both the player and the club. He has already suffered three injuries in the past year, missing 25 matches, making this setback particularly frustrating.
Currently, it seems unlikely Jota will return in October. However, depending on the injury’s severity, a comeback in early November may still be possible. For now, Liverpool fans are hoping for positive news from the scan and a swift recovery for the Portuguese forward.