Jurgen Klopp fears he could now lose Liverpool forward Diogo Jota due to an ankle problem (Image: BT Sport)
Jurgen Klopp fears Diogo Jota may have potentially damaged ankle ligaments in Liverpool's priceless 2-0 Champions League win at Inter Milan after withdrawing his Portuguese forward from the fray at half-time. Although the Liverpool boss has made it clear Jota could have played on, the Reds were not willing to take any risks on their prolific frontman following the brief scare in the dressing room at the interval.
Jota was largely quiet throughout the entirety of the first-half and did not remerge from the tunnel as Roberto Firmino replaced him in a straight swap at the break.
The Brazilian would later open the scoring with a brilliantly-timed glancing header.
Mohamed Salah then made it 2-0 when he struck a loose ball home via a minor deflection.
Yet despite a professional performance, Jota's injury concern created a tinge of disappointment for Klopp.
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"We will check it early tomorrow and we need to give it further assessment but we have to see."
Liverpool were forced to weather an early second-half storm as Ivan Perisic tormented Trent Alexander-Arnold down Inter's left flank.
Edin Dzeko did also have the ball in the net before the goal was ruled out for offside.
"I think we started really well, we played around their formation in the beginning, then they came up a bit with direct play, switching to the wing-backs, we couldn't defend that too well, too often our full-backs were isolated in one on one situations," Klopp added.
Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah scored vital goals for Liverpool (Image: GETTY)
"In a game like this you have to keep the ball longer.
"You cannot come here and hope you have a brilliant day and that's the only chance to get the result.
"We had not a brilliant day but a good enough day to get a deserved win, we scored two wonderful goals, yes they had their moments, they had counter-attacks, that sort of thing."
Liverpool welcome Inter to Anfield for the second leg on March 8.