Liverpool have been dealt mixed news in their preparations for the resumption of the Premier League season on December 26th as updates have been provided on key forward pair Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz amid their recovery from injury.
Diaz hobbled off in the first half of Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in October with what looked to be a knee injury, while hamstring and calf injuries have reduced Jota to just 4 Premier League outings so far this season.
His more recent issue with his calf also led to him missing the World Cup for Portugal after he was stretchered off in second half stoppage time during their 1-0 win over Manchester City.
🎶 He’s a lad from Portugal, better than Figo don’t you know! 🎶
🏃♂️ 93 appearances
⚽️ 34 goals
🎯 12 assistsHappy Birthday to the one and only @DiogoJota18 🔴 #LFCpic.twitter.com/ofFM4xdKzU
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) December 4, 2022
And he is expected to be sidelined until at least February with the issue, though there is better news for Diaz, whose recovery has gone to plan and who will now return to Liverpool’s training sessions, putting him in line to be fit again for the resumption of the Premier League on Boxing Day, when Jurgen Klopp’s side head to Villa park to take on Aston Villa.
He could also feature in the Carabao Cup fourth round four days earlier, when they take on Manchester City. The Reds will almost certainly hold the advantage in that tie, with just six of their outfield players heading to the World Cup, compared to 15 from their title rivals from last season.
Klopp’s side, who are currently in sixth place and 15 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, are widely expected to have a strong second half to the campaign, with the likes of Mo Salah and Andy Robertson among those to have had a much-needed rest during the World Cup in Qatar, while their players at the tournament have also played the fewest of the top six sides.
