Liverpool could be without striker Diogo Jota when the Premier League leaders face Brentford on Saturday.
Jota scored 22 seconds after coming off the bench at Nottingham Forest in midweek, his header securing a point for Arne Slot’s side.
Liverpool go into the weekend four points ahead of Arsenal but may have to do without the Portuguese striker.
Slot said: “There is no doubt about his [Jota] important for us but he wasn’t training, so we have to see today where he is.
Arne Slot has confirmed we will assess Diogo Jota’s fitness to determine if he can be involved in Saturday’s trip to Brentford ⤵️
–Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 17, 2025
“It’s not certain that it will be available tomorrow, we’ll see today. He felt a little reproach when he arrived, a reproach during the half hour he arrived at Forest. He finished the game but complained a little about it. We’ll see for tomorrow.
Brentford have a good record of scoring goals early in the season and Liverpool have conceded the opening goal in five of their last seven Premier League games.
Slot says he expects the second half of the season to be tougher and pointed to Southampton’s performance in their eventual defeat to Manchester United on Thursday as proof of what lies in store for the top teams.
“This season shows the strength of the Premier League,” he said.
“It was quite surprising to see Southampton play Manchester United for so long, so it is more difficult to win in the second half of the season than in the first.
“Teams are together longer, others bring in players and teams fight for Europe, titles, to stay in the league; Brentford is an example of a team that was already strong in the first half.
“It’s been a very good team for a few years now. They showed it.
Young striker Jayden Danns impressed from the bench in the FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley and is one of the players who has been linked with a loan move from Anfield this month.
Slot says he has a lot to consider regarding the 19-year-old’s future.
He said: “I think you consider a lot of things when you want to loan someone out, is it good for the player? Yes or no. Do we still need him?
“We have two or three for No.9 and we don’t expect Jota to be out for long. I hope we see him on the field soon
“Jayden has done well in his arrival, so we have four options and we have to make the right decisions.”
