‘Matter of time...’ - Sky pundit picks Diaz replacement after Liverpool injury update emerges

Former England international Paul Robinson believes Diogo Jota will replace Luis Diaz for Liverpool on Tuesday after an injury update emerged before kick-off vs Inter.

Jurgen Klopp’s side take a 2-0 lead with them into Tuesday’s last 16 second leg tie with the Serie A champions, with a place in the quarter-finals expected.

Goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah earned Liverpool the win in the first leg, in what was yet another sign of their brilliance this season.

Now, in what is a massive update for both Klopp and the fans, the club have confirmed he may have a fully fit squad for the return leg. This means that the manager now effectively has five players to fit into three positions in Diaz, Jota, Firmino, Salah and Sadio Mane.

Reacting to the injury update in an interview with Football Insider, former Spurs man Robinson, a pundit on Sky Sports, tipped Jota to come in, with their headline claiming Diaz will be ‘axed‘:

“Klopp will mix that front three around. It will only be a matter of time before Jota gets his opportunity again because he has been one of their best players this season.

“I think he’ll probably come in for Diaz or Mane tonight.”

This is an ideal opportunity for Jota to get some more minutes under his belt, having picked up an injury in the first half at the San Siro last month.

Diaz and Mane both started Saturday’s 1-0 win at home to Aston Villa, so giving one a breather ahead of the trip to Brighton on Saturday makes perfect sense, particularly the former, who has been starting while others have been unavailable recently.

Klopp is well-known for bedding players in slowly once they sign for the club, such as Andy Robertson, who sat behind Alberto Moreno initially. Diaz has been thrown in