Football Today
·8 November 2024
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsFootball Today
·8 November 2024
Liverpool will be aiming to maintain their impressive form when they take on Aston Villa in the Premier League at Anfield on Saturday.
Many pundits were sceptical about whether the Reds could challenge for the title despite their impressive start under Arne Slot, but recent results have forced some of them to change their minds.
Liverpool head into the weekend at the head of the standings. A victory against Unai Emery’s Villa will ensure they remain on top of the table before the November international break.
Arne Slot has confirmed that Diogo Jota will be back shortly after the international break.
The Reds forward picked up a rib injury during the 2-1 win over Chelsea at Anfield last month and has missed the last five games.
He will be absent once again against Villa, but the big news coming today is that he is on course to be available again in a matter of weeks.
Slot said: “We expect him back after the international break – the first weeks after the international break, we expect him back.
“I always say in Holland there is privacy about this, and I don’t know how it is over here. Like I just said, he will be back one or two weeks after the international break.”
The Reds have lost only once in the Premier League thus far and have picked up eight wins in ten games.
Liverpool have surpassed early expectations, but the real challenge will come after the international break.
The away trip to Southampton probably won’t trouble them, but what comes after will have a big impact on Liverpool’s season.
The Reds will face Manchester City, Newcastle United, Everton, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur in the league, and the results will have a huge bearing on the title race.
Slot will need his key players to be at their peak form, which is why Jota’s potential return around that time becomes so vital.
If he recovers quickly, he may be able to start against Man City. The 27-year-old has bagged two goals and two assists in the Premier League this season and is ahead of Darwin Nunez in the pecking order.
While the primary focus shifts to the weekend’s clash against Villa, Liverpool fans will be excited by the latest injury update about the Portuguese forward.
Live