Klopp: Jota has 'tiny chance' of returning from injury to face Crystal Palace

Published on: 18 May 2021

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota could make a surprise reappearance for the club's potentially crucial final match of the season - and is set to be fit for Portugal's Euro 2020 squad.

The 24-year-old did not play at West Brom on Sunday and had been ruled out of the remainder of the season due to a problem with a bone in his foot sustained in the win at Manchester United last week.

However, a second assessment of the injury has left the forward with a "tiny" chance of being available for Liverpool's last home match of the season against Crystal Palace which could be will be vital to secure a top-four finish.

"The swelling went down and it looked better than the first scan. So it's a tiny chance for the weekend," said boss Jurgen Klopp, who will have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back for Wednesday's trip to Burnley and may also have fellow midfielder James Milner returning.

"But good news for Portugal and Diogo himself, the Euros are not in danger. We will see if it's good enough for us."

Gareth Southgate names his 26-man England party for the Euros next Tuesday and, having omitted Trent Alexander-Arnold out of internationals in March, there remains a doubt as to whether the 22-year-old will be recalled for this summer's tournament.

Alexander-Arnold has displayed his best form of the season over the last couple of months, putting in a man-of-the-match display in last week's win at Manchester United and providing the assist from a corner for Alisson Becker's 95th-minute winner at West Brom.

"This was a world-class corner, not the first, hopefully not the last of Trent," said Klopp.

"Nat Phillips could have scored if he had left his eyes open. If Ali had missed the ball I think Sadio was in a quite interesting position, that's how good the corner was.

"We shouldn't take these things for granted. We saw brilliant players, world-class players, in decisive moments delivering rather average set-pieces as it is quite common in the last seconds of the game there is a free-kick or a corner.

"The corner, the cross made it happen - Ali had only to put his head on it but he did that quite well."

Alexander-Arnold's return to form has arrived at seemingly the right time on the eve of a major tournament but Southgate may still need some persuading to bring back the defender.

Klopp, however, is in no doubt.

"He played a good season. He had a problem in that he played with roundabout 20-odd different centre-half pairings, which is just tricky," he added.

"He is still a young player, he has a much bigger part in organising the last line than he had previously.

"It means from a young, world-class talent to a defensive organiser is a step but he did that as well so yes, he is in a good moment and long may it continue for us.

"Without Trent's game - not only his - we would be in a different place."

Someone else Klopp has no doubts over is Mohamed Salah, who continues to linked with a move away.

The Egypt international scored his 31st goal of the season - and 22nd in the league - at the Hawthorns but was even more delighted at seeing Alisson snatch the winner.

"We are together every day and I know how much Mo is committed to this team and this club, so I don't need a goal celebration to realise 'Oh look, now everyone can see it'," Klopp said ahead of their trip to Burnley as they look for the first of two wins which will secure a top-four spot.

"I was never in doubt about his love for his team-mates or the club, not for one second."

Source: m.allfootballapp.com

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