Liverpool suffer major blow as key player ruled out of Merseyside derby vs Everton

Liverpool have suffered a major injury blow ahead of the Merseyside derby with Everton.

The Reds make the short trip to Goodison Park on Wednesday night, with no margin for error as their continue the close title race with Arsenal and Manchester City.

After suffering a shock defeat to Crystal Palace, Liverpool responded with a 3-1 win over Fulham on Sunday.

And in what appeared to be a big boost, Diogo Jota made his first start for two months and bagged the third goal at Craven Cottage.

Yet in his pre-Everton press conference, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Jota is now set to be out for two weeks with a hip problem.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Klopp said when asked if there was any injury news.

“Diogo scored the goal, felt a little bit and now we found out it’s a little bit more.

“So he’ll be out for two weeks. Besides that, no.”

Klopp went into further detail on the injury suffered by Jota, describing it as minor but "not enough to be available".

He added: “Before [the Atalanta] game he got a knock, real challenge and felt a little bit in the hip.

“That was then fine, we didn’t start him, brought him on, then he started the last game, was obviously OK, but then with the finish [he felt it].

“It’s a small one, but we’re now late in the season. It’s not a big one, two weeks is pretty much nothing, but enough to not be available. That’s it.”

Image: Getty

Although two weeks is not a lengthy lay-off, it means Jota is likely to miss three upcoming games against Everton, West Ham and Spurs.

The Portugal international has managed just 19 starts this season and returns to the injury list alongside the likes of Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, Conor Bradley and Ben Doak.