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

Jota scored 22 seconds after coming off the bench at Nottingham Forest in midweek, his header securing a point for Arne Slot’s side.

Liverpool will go into the weekend four points clear of Arsenal but will have to do without the Portuguese striker.

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

Arne Slot has confirmed that Diogo Jota will be assessed to see if he can take part in Saturday’s trip to Brentford ⤵️

– Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 17, 2025

“It is not known whether he will be available tomorrow, we will see today. He felt a little as he entered, trembling within the half hour he had come to the Forest. He finished the game but complained a little. We’ll see tomorrow.”

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

Slot says he expects the second half of the season to be tougher and pointed to Southampton’s display in their defeat to Manchester United on Thursday as evidence of what is expected of the leaders.

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

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

“Teams are separated, some bring players and teams are fighting for Europe, titles, to stay in the league; Brentford is an example of a team that was already strong in the first half.

“They have been a very good team for a few years now. They have shown that.”

Youngster Jayden Danns impressed from the bench in the FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley and is one player linked with a loan move away from Anfield this month.

Slot says he has a lot to think about about the 19-year-old’s future.

He said: “I think you think about a lot of things when you want to hire someone, is it good for the player? Yes or no. Do we still need him?

“We have two or three at No.9 and we don’t expect Jota to stay long. We hope to see him soon

Jayden has done well after coming in, so we have four options and we have to make the right decisions.