Liverpool and Mohamed Salah have been dealt a "big blow" after Diogo Jota's injury, says journalist Dean Jones.

Jones feels that the Egyptian forward and the Reds as a whole perform better when Jota is on the pitch.

GiveMeSport The Verdict

What is the latest injury news involving Jota?

Jota will miss Liverpool's game against West Ham at Anfield and is set for a long spell on the sidelines after damaging his calf in the recent 1-0 win versus Manchester City.

On the 25-year-old, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “It’s really not good news about Diogo. Yes, he will miss the World Cup. [It’s a] pretty serious injury in the calf muscle and now the recovery process starts."

The German later went on to add: "He will not be in for a long time; we talk about months. So, we will see. I don’t want to put now a number on it because I always hope in the middle of the rehab there is a very positive development and we can cut days off the rehab phase, but it will be long.”

It is a hugely disappointing development for Jota, who had only recently recovered from a hamstring problem.

What has Jones said about Jota's injury?

From Jones' point of view, Jota now being unavailable for selection is a major setback for Liverpool. In the journalist's opinion, the team and star man Salah perform at a higher level when the Portugal international is in the side.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "It's definitely a big blow. I mean, Liverpool are generally better when Jota is around and they had to wait already to get him back in the team this season. I think Salah's better when Jota's around."

Can Liverpool cope without Jota?

Thanks to Salah, Liverpool still have a lot of firepower. He has been deadly in the Champions League this season, scoring five goals in four appearances, while his Premier League record from the previous campaign highlights what he is capable of when he is at the top of his game.

In 35 outings, the Egyptian international, who the Merseyside club signed for just £34m (via BBC Sport), registered 23 times.

Ultimately, while losing Jota is far from ideal, Liverpool should still be able to score goals with the likes of Salah, Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino in their side.

And if they do, once the £41m attacker is back, the Reds should still be in contention for a Champions League spot.

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