Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says forward Diogo Jota is still some way away from making his return to full fitness. It was hoped that the Portuguese international would be back in training for the start of next month.

However, Klopp says the 24-year-old is still a number of weeks away from being back on the grass, despite having already been out for a month with a knee injury he sustained against FC Midtjylland:

“He’s still in the knee brace, so a few weeks away from team training. Nothing new to say. It takes time. No surgery needed but a proper injury. Not a little knock. No real time frame for that.”

Klopp usually likes to have players back in full training for at least a week before classing them as ready for selection, so his comments do suggest that there is no chance of Jota being available to face Brighton on February 3rd.

There are now question marks over whether he’ll be involved in the huge clash against Manchester City on February 6th as well. That would be a blow for the Reds so fans will be hoping that his recovery takes less time than expected.