LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago
DIOGO JOTA WILL miss Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Arsenal on Sunday, while Conor Bradley is hopeful of overcoming a knock to make the matchday squad, head coach Arne Slot has said.
Jota suffered a rib injury in a collision during last weekend’s victory over Chelsea and has not recovered in time to make the journey to the Emirates Stadium.
New signing Federico Chiesa is also ruled out but Bradley is hoping to prove his fitness after a knock.
Slot said at a press conference on Friday: “I think they feel good but not when it comes to playing for us at the weekend.
“Federico might train with us today or tomorrow but Diogo definitely not and Conor Bradley – let’s see if he can be with us on Sunday.”
Back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who impressed in the midweek win over RB Leipzig, will continue to deputise for Alisson Becker, whose return date from a thigh injury remains unclear.
Liverpool travel to Brighton in the Carabao Cup next Wednesday before hosting the Seagulls in the Premier League the following Saturday.
Slot said of the Brazilian: “He is progressing well, like we expect, but it is not a short-term recovery so it is always difficult to judge him.
“The best way to judge an injury is in the end phase and he is not there yet.
“I can’t tell you how long he will be out but don’t expect him to be in against Brighton in the cup or next week.”
Slot has made a superb start since taking over at Anfield in the summer, with 11 wins from his first 12 games in all competitions and his side top of the table.
The hard-fought 2-1 defeat of Chelsea was generally considered to be their toughest test to date but Slot is expecting another step up against the Gunners, runners-up for the past two seasons.
The Dutchman said: “I expect a lot from Chelsea this season and they showed it at Anfield.
“But if you look at the last two seasons, Arsenal were (not only) far ahead of us, but also above Chelsea.
“So you would assume that playing Arsenal will be more difficult.
“Let’s see at the end of the season where Chelsea and Arsenal both are but normally you expect, especially as it is an away game, that this one is more difficult than Chelsea at home – and we all saw how difficult Chelsea at home was.”
Meanwhile Manchester City boos Pep Guardiola has confirmed Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku all remain unavailable for Saturday’s home Premier League game against Southampton.
Guardiola, who named only 15 outfield players in his squad for this week’s Champions League win against Sparta Prague, also admitted he had no idea when De Bruyne would return to contention.
When asked if De Bruyne and Walker were available, Guardiola said: “No, not yet.”
And when pressed on whether De Bruyne’s extended absence due to a thigh injury was a concern, Guardiola added: “Yes of course. I’d prefer to have all the squad (fit) with the amount of games, but it is what it is.
“Hopefully he can come back soon. I don’t know (when) yet. I would like to tell you, but I don’t know.”
Playmaker De Bruyne has been out since mid-September, while right-back Walker sustained a knee injury while on England duty earlier this month.
Doku and fellow winger Grealish were added to City’s injured list earlier this week and missed Wednesday night’s 5-0 triumph over Sparta.
When asked if either of those two would be back, Guardiola replied pointedly “no” and refused to embellish further on his latest injury woes.
