Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Diogo Jota will miss the World Cup with Portugal later this year due to an injury sustained during Sunday's 1-0 win over Manchester City.
The Reds manager issued the grim update during his pre-match presser ahead of Liverpool's upcoming Premier League contest at home against West Ham. Klopp said: "Not good news, about Diogo, he will miss the World Cup, pretty serious injury in the calf muscle. The process starts from now."
While Klopp went on to explain how it will be a case of months spent on the sidelines for the Portugal international, Jota is thought to have already gone some way in coming to terms with the seriousness of his injury.
"He's surprisingly OK so far, he's a smart boy, very reflective, and I think he knew already when we carried him off the pitch," Klopp added.
Jota was withdrawn from Sunday's victory over Pep Guardiola's side deep into second-half stoppage time as he was taken off the pitch on a stretcher. This is just the latest blow for the former Wolves star who has struggled with persistent hamstring injuries for months now.
The player himself has also since broken his silence, taking to Twitter to write: "After such a good night at Anfield mine ended in the worst way ! In the last minute one of my dreams collapsed.
"I will be one more supporting from the outside, club and country, and fighting to be back as soon as possible. You'll Never Walk Alone."
He was forced to miss the opening month of this season as he struggled to shake off a strain that had lingered and ruled him out of being able to contribute on the pitch.
Though confirmation that his Qatar World Cup dreams are over will be a devastating blow, Jota can take some comfort in that Klopp confirmed he would not have to undergo any kind of surgery to rectify the issue.
From a Reds perspective, it reduces the amount of wide options they can call upon, having already lost Luis Diaz for a spell when the Colombian also picked up an injury the week before Jota during the 3-2 defeat at Arsenal.
Klopp also discussed the red card he was given against City last week and whether that will prevent him from taking his usual seat in the dugout against the Hammers on Wednesday night.
The Reds boss was given a red card by Antony Taylor for his furious outburst at the linesman late on in the second-half.
"I think I will be there [on the touchline] because nothing has happened yet," he admitted. "I still think I should have dealt with the situation differently which I usually do. It was an intense game that both managers didn't understand with some calls. I am not happy with my reaction."
Liverpool currently sit eighth in the table, but know a win against West Ham would see them start breathing down the necks of those hovering in and around the top four.
