Diogo Jota: Jurgen Klopp confirms forward will miss Norwich game with ankle ligament injury which ‘could go either way’ | Football News

Diogo Jota has been ruled out of Liverpool’s clash with Norwich due to an ankle ligament injury which “could go quick or the other way”, according to Jurgen Klopp.

Jota has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season, and was replaced by Roberto Firmino at half-time in Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Inter Milan on Wednesday night.

“He will not be available this weekend but the extent is still not clear,” said Klopp. “We need further assessment. Some ligament around the ankle.

“Everything is possible. It could go quick or the other way. We have to wait.”

Norwich head coach Dean Smith accepts he is going up against one of football’s grandmasters when he takes on Klopp – but hopes a few of his own chess tactics could deliver checkmate at Anfield.

The Canaries head to Liverpool on the back of a 4-0 home defeat by leaders Manchester City, which left them in the relegation zone.

Smith knows taking on the top two sides in the country will not define Norwich’s survival battle, but the former West Midlands schools chess champion is not about to resign the prospect of an unlikely positive result.

“Jurgen certainly has got a few more pieces than me at the moment, so there would be an advantage in terms of the quality of players,” said Smith, who masterminded a memorable 7-2 win over Klopp’s side when in charge of Aston Villa in October 2020.

“Our mindset is going to be a really important part of it. We have to try to out-think (Liverpool) where we can.

“I saw them (play in Europe) during the week and it is amazing what Jurgen has done at Liverpool in the time he has been there, it is something like 50 Champions League wins alone now.

“So, yes we are coming up against a grandmaster and I am really looking forward to it.

“We have had some good battles against him before, but obviously I was at a different club at the time, so it would be my first with Norwich.

“We will have two in the space of two weeks (with an FA Cup fifth-round tie to follow on March 2), so we have to come up with some tricks where we can.”

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