Liverpool vs. Chelsea: Reds suffer Diogo Jota injury blow in Premier League clash

Liverpool have been handed a fresh injury blow after Diogo Jota was forced off in the first half of Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea.

The Portugal international was handed his seventh Premier League start of the season for the crucial meeting with Enzo Maresca's side.

Jota was involved in one of the game's first major talking points after he was brought down by Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

The former Fulham centre-back was penalised by referee John Brooks after he prevented Jota from latching onto a long ball forward.

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Liverpool suffer Jota injury blow

Jota appeared to receive a knee to his ribs and subsequently required medical attention before he briefly went off the pitch to receive further treatment.

The Liverpool forward swiftly returned to the action, while Adarabioyo escaped a red card for the incident as the officials ultimately decided he was not the last man due to the covering Levi Colwill.

Jota attempted to play through the pain barrier, but he was ultimately withdrawn just moments after Mohamed Salah had opened the scoring from the penalty spot.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot opted to replace the injured attacker with Uruguay international Darwin Nunez, who was sent on to operate in a front three alongside Salah and Cody Gakpo.

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Could Jota miss Arsenal clash?

The Liverpool manager will likely provide an update on Jota's physical state following the Premier League clash at Anfield.

Slot will hope that Jota can make a swift recovery, especially with the Reds set to face Arsenal in a mammoth league meeting next weekend.

First, Liverpool will travel to Germany for Wednesday's Champions League meeting with RB Leipzig before they head to North London for next Sunday's clash with Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.

The Reds will also have to assess the fitness of Conor Bradley, who was left out of the matchday squad for the home meeting with Chelsea.

Bradley recently played the full duration of Nothern Ireland's UEFA Nations League fixtures against Belarus and Bulgaria.