Liverpool injury worries grow as they wait on Jota, Jones and Nunez updates

Premier League 

Brentford 1 (Toney 75’) 

Liverpool 4 (Nunez 35’, Mac Allister 55’, Salah 68’, Gakpo 86’)

ON the face of it, it’s hard to see why a commanding performance at a stadium where fancied teams have previously stumbled, underpinned by an impressive contribution from the team’s talisman, prompted a mixed reaction, particularly given Manchester City’s stumble later in the day.

Liverpool’s convincing victory at Brentford, however, was accompanied by the footnote of injuries to three key players, reinforcing the challenge facing Jurgen Klopp as he attempts to ensure his time at the club ends with success.

By the time the final whistle had blown at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening, Klopp’s side sat two points clear of Arsenal and, importantly, four points clear of City who have a game in hand. No one at Anfield will be underestimating the challenge of Arsenal, particularly following the Reds recent defeat at the Emirates Stadium, but it is the knowledge that City are more than capable of serving up a flawless run-in that underscores the belief that there can be no margin for error if Klopp is to end his time on Merseyside with a second Premier League campaign.

And the manager’s ability to deliver that, while at the same time targeting success in the EFL Cup, the FA Cup and the Europa League, clearly hinges on his ability to have as strong a squad at his disposal. No surprise then that first half injuries to Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez dampened the sense of elation at the Gtech Community stadium, particularly after Dominik Szoboszlai and Alisson Becker had already joined Trent Alexander-Arnold on the injury list on Friday.

Of the three weekend casualties, it is Jota who provided the most