Liverpool attacker Diogo Jota is reportedly facing two months on the sidelines with the knee injury he sustained in Saturday's 4-1 Premier League win over Brentford.
The Portugal international was one of three Reds starters forced off at the Gtech Community Stadium, having hurt his knee when Brentford's Christian Norgaard leapt into the air and fell back down on him.
Jota had to be stretchered off the field in visible discomfort, and Jurgen Klopp conceded straight away that the 27-year-old's problem appeared to be worse than the injuries which also saw Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez leave the field.
Following Klopp's admission and the necessity of a stretcher, fears were understandably raised that Jota may have suffered a season-ending injury, but according to Portuguese outlet Record, that is not the case.
Rather than damaging his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), Jota is believed to have sustained an injury to his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and should therefore return to action before the season is over.
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However, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker is still facing around two months on the treatment table, and further scans will take place on Monday before an official update on his condition is announced.
As a result, Jota is guaranteed to miss Sunday's EFL Cup final against Chelsea and potentially as many as nine Premier League matches between now and the middle of April, including clashes with Manchester United, Everton and Manchester City.
In addition, the Europa League last 16 (March 7 to 14) will come too soon for Jota, and if Liverpool make it through to the quarter-finals - which take place from April 11 to 18 - he is not guaranteed to be fit for those two legs either.
Jota should also miss the FA Cup quarter-finals in the middle of March if Liverpool beat Southampton in their fifth-round tie, but his injury is not expected to jeopardize his chances of representing Portugal at Euro 2024.
The 27-year-old suffered his cruel injury blow just one day after being named January's Premier League Player of the Month, and he provided a smart assist for Nunez's opener against Brentford before being taken off.
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Prior to Jota's blow, Klopp had to make an unwanted alteration in midfield as Jones suffered a blow to his shin, while Nunez only lasted until half time due to discomfort.
Neither Nunez nor Jones's injuries are believed to be as severe as Jota's, but both men have now emerged as doubts for Wednesday's Premier League clash with Luton Town and the impending EFL Cup final.
The injury-riddled Reds are now facing a double-figure list of absentees for the visit of the Hatters, as none of Dominik Szoboszlai (hamstring), Alisson Becker (hamstring) nor Trent Alexander-Arnold (knee) are expected back in the coming days.
Thiago Alcantara (muscle), Joel Matip (knee), Ben Doak (knee) and Stefan Bajcetic (calf) are also long-term concerns for the Reds, who at least welcomed Mohamed Salah back from his muscular injury for the trip to Brentford.
However, it has now been claimed that the Egypt international suffered from muscular cramps during Saturday's victory and is also uncertain for the midweek battle with Luton, but such reports are yet to be confirmed.
Ben Knapton
