Report: £41m Liverpool player has picked up an injury with country, missed 21 games last year

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Liverpool will be sweating over the fitness of Diogo Jota.

The Portugal star reported for international duty earlier this week.

But Desporto is reporting that the Liverpool attacker – a £41 million signing in 2020 – is a doubt for tonight’s friendly with Qatar.

The report adds that the 24-year-old is suffering with a muscle problem and hasn’t trained with his country because of it.

Blow

This isn’t great news from a Liverpool perspective.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are away to Watford in the Premier League next weekend and three days later, a Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid in Spain.

Roberto Firmino has been a tad rusty this season, meaning that Jota is a huge player for the Anfield club and Klopp will be desperate to have him available for the Atleti game in particular.

With Curtis Jones now injured as well, the German manager, who had Harvey Elliott, Thiago Alcantara and Trent Alexander-Arnold sidelined before the international break, already has his fair share of injury concerns.

And Jota adding to those concerns is far from ideal.

The good news is that it’s a muscle issue and not something more sinister, like a knee or ankle ailment, and he could, in theory, shake it off in time for next week.

The bad news is that the former Wolves star missed 21 matches for Liverpool last season and therefore has previous when it comes to injuries.