An iota of doubt for the Brentford game, Danns latest plus more

Liverpool could be without striker Diogo Jota when the Premier League leaders welcome Brentford on Saturday.

Jota scored 22 seconds after coming on from the bench for Nottingham Forest in midweek, with a header to secure a point for Arne Slot’s side.

Liverpool enter the weekend four points behind Arsenal, but could be without the Portuguese forward.

Slot said: “There’s no doubt about his (Jota’s) importance for us, but he hasn’t trained, so we have to see where he is today.

Arne Slot has confirmed that we will assess Diogo Jota’s fitness to determine if he can be included in Saturday’s trip to Brentford ⤵️

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 17, 2025

“I am not sure that he will be free tomorrow, we will see today. He felt small when he came in, nibbling during the half hour he came to Forest. He finished the game, but complained a little about it. We’ll see for tomorrow.”

Brentford have a good record of scoring early goals this season and Liverpool have conceded the first goal in five of their last seven Premier League games.

Slott says he expects the second half of the season to be tougher and pointed to Southampton’s display in their final defeat to Manchester United on Thursday as evidence of what lies ahead for the top teams.

“This season shows the strength of the Premier League,” he said.

“It was quite a surprise to see Southampton play Manchester United for so long, so it’s harder to win in the second half of the season than the first.

“Teams have been together longer, others are bringing players and teams are fighting for Europe, titles, to stay in the league; Brentford is an example of a team that was strong already in the first half.

“They have been a very good team for several years now. They showed it.”

Young striker Jayden Danns impressed from the bench during the FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley and is one of the players linked with a loan move from Anfield this month.

Slot says there is a lot to consider about the 19-year-old’s future.

He said: “I think you take a lot of things into account when you want to take someone out on loan, is it good for the player? Yes or no. Do we need more?

“We have two or three for number 9 and we don’t expect Jota to be out for a long time. We hope to see him on the field soon

“Jayden did well when he came in, so we have four options and we have to make the right decisions.”