Liverpool forward Diogo Jota is set to miss the World Cup with a calf injury.
Jota was stretchered off in the dying seconds of Sunday’s narrow win over Manchester City, leading to fears of a fresh lay-off for the 25-year-old.
The Portugal international had already missed five games for the Reds at the start of this season with a hamstring problem picked up during the summer.
And Jurgen Klopp confirmed on Tuesday that Jota’s World Cup dream is over following the initial prognosis from his latest injury setback last weekend.
“Yes, he will miss the World Cup,” said the Liverpool manager.
“It’s a pretty serious injury in the muscle, calf muscle. Now the recovery starts, or the process starts, let me say it like this.
“That’s it pretty much, that’s the first diagnosis, which was pretty clear. All the rest will follow in the next few days.
“Very sad news for the boy, for us, for Portugal, for everybody.”
He added: “[It will have a] big impact. So now we can say that because he will not be in for a long time; we talk about months. 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.”
Jota reaffirmed the end of his World Cup hopes shortly after Klopp’s remarks.
“After such a good night at Anfield mine ended in the worst way! In the last minute, one of my dreams collapsed,” he wrote on social media.
“I will be one more supporting from the outside, club and country, and fighting to be back as soon as possible.”