Liverpool manager Arne Slot anticipates that Diogo Jota will participate in their Champions League match against Serie A side Bologna at Anfield, despite the Portuguese forward missing training on Tuesday.
Jota sustained a knock during the 2-1 Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, but he is expected to play in place of Federico Chiesa, who arrived at training on Tuesday with an injury.
Chiesa, who joined Liverpool from Juventus in August, had contributed an assist in the 5-1 League Cup third-round win against West Ham United but will now miss the chance to face familiar opponents on Wednesday.
“It’s unfortunate for him because he was eager for a Champions League night at Anfield, especially against an Italian team,” Slot told reporters. “How long is he out? It’s always hard to say, given that it happened yesterday, but I don’t expect him to be sidelined for an extended period. We’ll see if he can be part of the squad for Saturday’s league match against Crystal Palace.”
Liverpool has made a strong start under Slot in his first season as manager. They currently lead the Premier League with 15 points, commenced their Champions League campaign with a 3-1 victory over AC Milan, and secured a place in the League Cup’s last 16.
“One of the reasons we can compete is our quality and the cohesion within the team. The players not in the starting lineup are still happy for us when we score and win, which are both very positive signs,” Slot added.
Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister praised Slot for successfully stepping into the substantial role left by former manager Jürgen Klopp.
“He’s definitely an amazing manager. You can see his impact from day one,” the Argentine said. “We understand his expectations, and I think that’s crucial for a coach—to instill his ideas in the players.”
After a one-year absence from the Champions League, Slot hopes to see his team’s hunger reflected on the pitch on Wednesday.
“What I want from the players is for them to demonstrate how much they missed this competition. I want to see that passion, and I want to feel it,” Slot expressed. “I hope our fans share this sentiment and show Europe that they missed us.”