Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Diogo Jota is on course to be fit for Liverpool's Champions League clash against Real Madrid next month.
Jota, 26, has not played since suffering a calf injury during the dying moments of Liverpool's 1-0 win against Manchester City three months ago. The Portuguese needed to be stretchered off due to the severity of the complaint and missed the World Cup in Qatar.
Jota has since returned to light training but will not be involved in Liverpool's FA Cup third-round replay against Wolves at Molineux on Tuesday night. Klopp has revealed the forward "looks really good" and is hopeful he will be available to face Real in February.
"I don’t know exactly how long Diogo will be out for, but he looks really good," said Klopp. "He is out there on the pitch and doing a lot of stuff already but he will be out for another few weeks. In contention for the Champions League? From my point of view, yes."
Jota has established himself as one of Liverpool's best forwards since his move from Wolves in the summer of 2020. The 29-cap international scored 21 goals in all competitions last season and will be a huge asset to Klopp when he makes his return from injury.
Liverpool's last-16 clash against Real could define their campaign. Klopp's side are ninth in the Premier League table - 10 points behind Manchester United in fourth - and convincingly lost their last two games in the division to Brentford and Brighton.
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The Community Shield winners were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Manchester City last month and their FA Cup hopes hang in the balance. Liverpool may have to win this season's Champions League to qualify for next term's edition of the competition.
That will be difficult, as Liverpool have a poor record against Real. The Spanish giants defeated them in 2018 and 2022 finals. They also knocked out them in the quarter-finals two seasons ago. Yet Jota's timely return will significantly improve Liverpool's chances.
Liverpool have struggled with injuries and the loss of Sadio Mane, who joined Bayern Munich last summer, this season. Luis Diaz (knee), Roberto Firmino (leg), Virgil van Dijk (hamstring) Arthur Melo (thigh) and Darwin Nunez (hamstring) are all out of action.
There's a chance Nunez could make his comeback against Wolves on Tuesday night. "Darwin is very close, but it's Monday and tomorrow is the game, [but] he's very close," added Klopp during his pre-match press conference, which took place on Monday.
Injuries to Jota, Diaz, Firmino and Nunez have put more pressure on talisman Mohamed Salah, who is struggling for goals in the Premier League this season. He's scored just seven goals in the division, although he's found the net 17 times in all competitions.
Liverpool recently signed Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven to give them more attacking options. The Netherlands international is yet to open his account for Klopp's side - something he will be aiming to amend at Molineux on Tuesday night.
