Jurgen Klopp confirms Diogo Jota won’t play for Liverpool against Norwich

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Diogo Jota will miss today’s Premier League meeting with Norwich at Anfield.

The Reds forward suffered an ankle injury in the 2-0 Champions League last-16 first-leg victory at Inter on Wednesday.

Klopp replaced Jota at half time at the San Siro, bringing Roberto Firmino on in the Portuguese’s place.

After the game, the Liverpool boss confirmed Jota’s withdrawal was due to an injury, not a tactical decision.

The Reds attacker sustained damage “around the ankle ligament” that left it swollen.

Jota was spotted wearing a protective boot after the game.

Speaking ahead of the Norwich clash, Klopp provided some more information on the 25-year-old’s injury.

“No, he will not be available but the extent is still not clear,” he told the Liverpool media team.

“We need further assessment. It’s something with some ligaments in and around the ankle, but not the ligament, some others.

“And so, pretty much everything is possible in the moment: that it will go really quick and the other way around unfortunately as well. So we have to wait.

“Everybody saw the picture with him in the boot. It’s a normal procedure; even when you just feel something they put you in that boot. For the weekend, for sure not.”

Big blow for Liverpool but Klopp blessed with great strength in depth – TBR View

While Jota’s absence is a big blow for Liverpool, there are few teams better placed to cope than the Reds.

Roberto Firmino, first-choice centre-forward at Anfield for so many years, will likely replace the Portuguese in the XI.

If need be, Sadio Mane and Takumi Minamino can play across the front three, and Mohamed Salah can play up front as well as on the right.

Paul Merson, writing on Sportskeeda, recently described Jota as “unbelievable” and feels he’s now above Firmino in the pecking order.

But it may not necessarily be a case of who’s above who in the pecking order.

Klopp can pick and choose depending on the opponent and, if a player is unavailable, the team will retain superb strength in depth.