Diogo Jota avoids 'worst-case scenario' as new injury time frame revealed

Diogo Jota is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury against Brentford, but the 'worst-case scenario' for his knee problem has been avoided according to an early report from Portugal.

The 27-year-old, who already spent a month on the treatment table earlier in the season, sustained a knee injury in Liverpool's 4-1 victory at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.

With multiple bodies bundling into one another, Brentford's Christian Norgaard landed on the Portuguese attacker's knee after competing for the ball.

Diogo Jota was in visible discomfort immediately and was stretchered off the field in west London, leaving the capital on crutches.

An early injury report from Portuguese outlet Record suggests that Jota is set to miss two months of football after damaging his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) rather than his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) - meaning the 'worst-case scenario' for his injury has been ruled out.

While still a devastating setback for the Reds, an ACL injury would have kept him out for the rest of the season and put his place at Euro 2024 in jeopardy.

Jota will undergo further scans on Monday that will help clarify the full extent of his problem, but the forward is still facing a significant spell out of action.

If the former Wolves man does return in mid-April after two months out, he will have missed some hugely significant fixtures for the Reds, including the Carabao Cup final (25 February), a clash with Manchester City (10 March) and derby matches with Everton (17 March) and Manchester United (7 April).

Jota had been finding his best form for Liverpool upon his return from a previous injury back on Boxing Day, even winning Premier League Player of the Month for January after an impressive spell.

Arguably Liverpool's most clinical finisher, Jota has 14 goals and four assists in all competitions this campaign and will leave an enormous hole that needs to be filled in the Reds' front line.

Fortunately, Liverpool still have four attackers they can rely upon in Jota's absence, with Mohamed Salah marking his return from injury against Brentford with a goal and an assist, Darwin Nunez netting against the Bees, Cody Gakpo scoring from the bench and Luis Diaz grabbing an assist as well.