November 28, 2024

Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota are certain to miss Sunday’s Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea, dealing yet another injury blow to the Reds.

The two are not anticipated to be fit for the Wembley match after suffering injuries during the victory against Brentford over the weekend. In the 4-1 victory, Jones, 23, was forced off after taking a blow to the lower part of his shin.

Jota, 27, had a knee injury that requires further evaluation. He is still undergoing examinations, although reports from Portugal indicate that he might be out for up to two months. Darwin Nunez left over the weekend as a precaution, but there hasn’t been any word on whether he has a major illness as of yet.

Alisson’s hamstring injury, which he sustained prior to the victory over the Bees last week, may also keep him out of the Carabao Cup final. However, Irish shot stopper Caoimhin Kelleher has been utilized by Kop manager Jurgen Klopp in the League Cup this season, so the Brazilian keeper would not have played against Chelsea anyhow.

On Wednesday night, Liverpool takes on Luton in an attempt to maintain their lead in the Premier League title chase. Their assault will be severely hampered by Jota’s absence, as the Portuguese forward has scored 14 goals this season—five of which have come in his previous seven games while filling in for Mo Salah.

Due to a knee injury, Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss the Reds’ matchup with Luton and the League Cup final. Due to a hamstring injury, midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is doubtful, while Thiago Alcantara is not present.

Liverpool’s next assignment is an FA Cup fifth-round match against Southampton. Then, on March 2, they have a difficult away trip to Nottingham Forest, and a week later, they have a massive title match against Manchester City. Following back-to-back league victories that have kept them two points clear at the top of the table, Cody Gakpo, who scored the fourth over the weekend, is still in a positive frame of mind.

He said: “I think we have to keep the feeling what we have at the moment and just build on that. Obviously in midweek we have another really important game and then the weekend is also another really important one. I think only important games will come up now.”