Jota among several absentees for Liverpool ahead of Champions League clash with RB Leipzig | OneFootball

Liverpool will be without several key players ahead of the Champions League visit to RB Leipzig.

Diogo Jota is one of the notable absentees for Liverpool’s trip to Leipzig. The forward was forced off in the first half of Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Anfield last weekend after a collision with Tosin Adarabioyo, leaving him with a suspected rib injury.

Providing an update on the striker, Arne Slot said: “He got a knock like we all saw when he was trying to go down. The other player fell on him, and it hurt him so much that he couldn’t continue. It’s difficult to judge how long it’s going to take. It’s bruised.”

Jota’s absence is particularly concerning with Liverpool’s attacking depth already under strain, with a crucial clash in the Premier League against Arsenal also on the horizon.

Another key figure who will not be traveling to Leipzig is Federico Chiesa. The Italian winger, who joined Liverpool from Juventus over the summer, has now missed four consecutive games.

Chiesa sustained an injury in training before the international break, which was not initially thought to be serious. However, his absence has continued longer than expected.

The 26-year-old has made just three appearances for Liverpool, totaling 78 minutes across three successive games. His last involvement came in the 3-1 victory over Wolves before his injury setback.

Slot addressed Chiesa’s situation, highlighting the challenge of integrating the winger into the Premier League following his move from Serie A: “It’s always difficult with injuries to see where they are after a few days. With Federico, it’s more straightforward he missed pre-season and came to a league that’s higher intensity than Serie A.

Slot acknowledges he needs to take a more cautious approach with the Italian: “That makes it difficult for him to catch up with the rest of the team. It’s disappointing for him to be in and out, but he signed a long-term contract, so we need to manage him carefully.”

Young defender Conor Bradley also has not made the trip to Germany, while goalkeeper Alisson also remains out along with Harvey Elliott, who is sidelined for the long term.

Liverpool have picked up two wins from two in the Champions League and while Leipzig may be without a point in the Champions League, Slot is preparing for a tough game.

“We face a good team, doing well in Bundesliga. After two games, you can have a league table that doesn’t tell the whole story. Very good team and yes the fixture list is tough but what do you expect if you play Champions League? That is what we like and what we want.”