Tag: Diogo Jota

Liverpool gears up for their clash against Plymouth. With only two injuries in the squad, manager Arne Slot has a wide range of options to select from and could make as many as 10 changes from the side that faced Tottenham last time out.

While it’s important not to overlook Sunday’s opponents, especially given that Plymouth managed a draw against Liverpool back in 2017 when they were still a fourth-division team, Slot should still see this match as an opportunity to rotate his squad. Times have certainly changed, with Liverpool boasting a much stronger, nearly fully-fit squad that was inherited from Jürgen Klopp.

Here’s what we know about the team for this upcoming match:

Team News

In his press conference, Arne Slot provided the following updates:

• Trent Alexander-Arnold won’t be available for this match and is also a doubt for the upcoming game against Everton.
• Tyler Morton has sustained a shoulder injury and will be out for “at least four weeks”.
• Slot confirmed he will “definitely use a few players that haven’t played that much”.
• Alisson was rested against Tottenham but is not injured and should be available for this fixture.

Liverpool’s Potential Lineup vs. Plymouth

Based on the available information, this is how Liverpool might line up against Plymouth:

Alisson; Bradley, Quansah, Gomez, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac Allister, Elliott; Chiesa, Jota, Diaz.

Despite the expectation that several key players will be rested, it’s still tough to predict Slot’s exact lineup. Much of the coach’s decisions will hinge on how seriously the Reds are taking this fixture. For instance, Mac Allister could feature alongside Curtis Jones if Slot deems it necessary.

There’s also the matter of who will be in goal. While Caoimhin Kelleher started in the third round, Slot may prefer to bring Alisson back in to keep him sharp ahead of future fixtures.

In terms of defensive changes, Wataru Endo will likely play in the backline, with Gomez moving to right-back to give Bradley a break before the match against Everton. This will also be the first time in a month that Jones starts consecutive matches.

McConnell, whom Slot spoke highly of in his pre-match comments, will likely join Jones and Elliott in midfield. Here’s an alternative lineup Slot could field:

Kelleher; Gomez, Quansah, Endo, Tsimikas; McConnell, Jones, Elliott; Chiesa, Jota, Diaz.

The reality is, Liverpool could afford to play a much younger side and still have a good chance of progressing. However, given the excellent health of the squad, this may be a perfect opportunity to give senior players who need minutes a run-out.

Additionally, with Liverpool U21s and Liverpool U18s also in action this weekend, we may get a glimpse of whether the likes of Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha feature in those games, hinting at potential involvement in the senior squad.

Stay tuned for more updates as we approach match day!

In a live update ahead of Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League match against Brentford, head coach Arne Slot provided the latest injury news, highlighting a concern over Diogo Jota‘s fitness. The Portuguese forward picked up a potential injury during his brief appearance off the bench against Nottingham Forest.

Slot confirmed, “We have to see today — it is not sure that he will be available. He felt a little niggle (midweek). There is no doubt about Jota’s importance for us, but he wasn’t training. He finished the game but complained a bit about it. We’ll see for tomorrow.”

Both Jota and Luis Diaz trained separately on Thursday, with their participation in Saturday’s match still uncertain. However, Slot seemed optimistic about Diaz’s condition, stating, “I assume Diaz will train today. He was just on his own earlier in the week because of a sore throat.”

The Liverpool manager also praised Diaz’s adaptability, particularly his performance as a striker, saying, “Diaz has done well as a nine and even before the winter break, it was a very good performance. Afterward, Diaz played there three more games — United, Spurs, Forest. We have created chances as a team and that’s important. I am happy if we play Diaz as a 9 or 11.”

In terms of defensive updates, Ibrahima Konaté is continuing to build up his fitness after managing 66 minutes against Nottingham Forest. The French defender is gradually regaining sharpness. Meanwhile, Joe Gomez remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained against West Ham at the end of 2024.

Finally, Darwin Núñez, who served a suspension midweek, is available again but is more likely to start in Liverpool’s upcoming Champions League match against Lille rather than the Premier League fixture at Brentford.

More news…..

Agent Confirms: ‘He Will Stay’ Amid January Liverpool Exit Rumors

Liverpool first-team assistant coach John Heitinga has attracted interest from managerless West Bromwich Albion.

Heitinga’s agent has confirmed that the Liverpool coach will remain at Anfield for the remainder of the season, despite interest from West Bromwich Albion. The former Everton defender joined Liverpool in the summer as part of new head coach Arne Slot’s backroom staff.

Before joining Liverpool, Heitinga had managed Ajax and most recently worked alongside his former Everton boss, David Moyes, in the coaching team at West Ham United.

His experience and positive impact at Liverpool — who are currently six points clear at the top of the Premier League, leading the Champions League, and advancing to the League Cup semi-finals — have made him a target for Championship club West Brom.

West Brom, who are aiming for promotion to the Premier League, have been without a manager since Carlos Corberan left to take charge of La Liga side Valencia just before Christmas.

However, their efforts to bring Heitinga to the Hawthorns seem unlikely to succeed. His agent, Rob Jansen, was quoted in De Telegraaf stating: “John will definitely stay at Liverpool this season.”

In the second part of his ECHO column, John Aldridge discusses Diogo Jota’s return and the importance of the Carabao Cup for Liverpool.

The biggest positive from Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Fulham at Anfield was Diogo Jota’s return after a two-month absence. The Portuguese striker appeared as though he had never been gone, scoring an excellent goal to equalize at 2-2. While Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo have been in fantastic form and Liverpool hasn’t lost a game without Jota, his presence has still been missed.

Before his injury against Chelsea on October 20, Jota’s season had been somewhat inconsistent, but he looked sharper than ever when he came on against Fulham. His timing was perfect, and he appeared like a greyhound ready to spring into action, showing remarkable composure for his equalizer. The calmness he displayed in that moment, especially considering how little he’s played and it being his first chance to score since returning, was impressive.

Looking ahead to Liverpool’s game against Southampton on Wednesday, Jota should start. He needs the minutes, and this is an ideal opportunity for him to get them. Federico Chiesa might also be a good inclusion, and perhaps even Darwin Nunez, who could benefit from a goal. That would make a strong front three for the match.

In midfield, Harvey Elliott could use the minutes, as could Curtis Jones. This also seems like a good game for Alexis Mac Allister to regain some rhythm, especially since he hasn’t played since the Newcastle match, which will have been two weeks by Wednesday. So that covers the frontline and midfield.

However, Liverpool’s injury concerns are at the back. Southampton, who were heavily beaten by Tottenham on Sunday and have lost their manager, Russell Martin, may have something to prove as well.

So, how seriously should manager Jürgen Klopp take this match? For Aldridge, the Carabao Cup is crucial, especially since it’s the quarter-finals. He points out that it provided one of the best moments of last season when Liverpool’s young players triumphed over Chelsea in the final. The Carabao Cup is also the competition Liverpool has won the most, making it worth pursuing. Despite injury concerns, Liverpool boasts a strong squad and should push for the win. Southampton has its own problems, with a focus on Premier League survival likely at the forefront of their minds.

Winning the Carabao Cup could provide a huge boost for Liverpool, adding to the fixture list but also creating lasting memories, as evidenced by their Wembley victory earlier this year. Aldridge expresses a clear desire to win the competition.