NewsArne Slot explains latest on Jota, Chiesa and Liverpool squad fitness

A 21-man group made the journey out to Germany on Tuesday afternoon for the Reds’ Champions League meeting with RB Leipzig on Wednesday night.

Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota were not with the team for the trip – and head coach Slot was first asked for an update on the latter when he spoke to the media at his pre-match press conference.

“[Also] Conor Bradley didn’t make the trip, Harvey Elliott didn’t make it, Federico Chiesa didn’t make it, and Alisson didn’t make it, so it means that we have a few issues at the moment,” said the boss.

“He [Jota] got a knock [on Sunday], like we all saw, when he was trying to go to goal, brought down. That was not the biggest problem but I think the other player fell onto him and that hurt him that much that he couldn’t continue to play and he couldn’t come with us for now.

“It’s difficult to judge at this moment of time to see how long that’s going to take.”

Slot added: “It’s bruised, so we have to see how long it is going to take.”

The Dutchman was subsequently asked if there is a specific timeframe on returns for Bradley and summer signing Chiesa.

“That is always so difficult with injuries, especially if it just happened,” he replied. “It’s so difficult to see where they are after a few days, and I think after a few [more] days you can better say where they are.

“With Federico it’s a bit more simple; although it’s more difficult, but it’s a bit more simple to explain. He missed a complete pre-season, I said this many times, and going to a league where the intensity might even be higher than the Italian league. We just faced the two Italian teams so I can say this now.

“So that makes it difficult for him to make the step towards the intensity levels the rest of the team is at at the moment. That has not so much to do with the Italian league or the Premier League, that has more to do with him missing a complete pre-season and that is so difficult for every player – when the games are constantly there – to build them up towards the levels we are at.

“So, difficult to say, but it’s a big disappointment for him that he is going in and out of the training sessions all the time. I feel sorry for him.

“But he signed a long-term contract so we will see what he brings for us. But at the moment, unfortunately for him he has been one or two times in the team selection and not more than that.”