Liverpool match-winner Diogo Jota insisted ‘life is more important’ than football as he sent a message to former teammate Rui Patricio after the Wolves goalkeeper suffered a head injury.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed his no.1 was ‘conscious and speaking’ following an accidental clash with teammate Conor Coady late on in Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Molineux.
The ‘keeper needed 14 minutes of treatment on the pitch after Coady caught Patricio in the head with his knee as they tried to stop Mohamed Salah from scoring.
He needed oxygen and was carried off on a stretcher in worrying scenes which brought back distressing memories for Wolves, with injured striker Raul Jimenez watching on from the sidelines.
Striker Jimenez suffered a fractured skull in a clash of heads with David Luiz at Arsenal in November and is yet to return.
But Nuno was able to reveal positive news on Patricio following the game, as Wolves and Liverpool players sent their well wishes to the goalkeeper.
“He is OK, he is awake, he is conscious,” said the Wanderers boss.
“He’s speaking and remembers what happened. He is in good hands, he is being assessed by the doctors.
“You have to take the right precautions, but he is OK. It was a collision with the knee of Coady, a big knock to his head but he is OK.
“We have to wait [before knowing whether he will miss games] and the following hours are important, he is going to be with the doctors and we have to wait for what’s happening.
“These situations can happen, even in a normal situation of the game.
“We played a good game, we competed well. We should do better with the final touch and final passes, but there was a good attitude and we fought until the end. They competed and gave everything they had.”
“Life is more important.”
Diogo Jota sends a message to his former teammate Rui Patricio after the Wolves ‘keeper suffered a potentially serious injury in the closing stages of #WOLLIV. pic.twitter.com/JBuuuiYEea
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 15, 2021
Back-to-back away wins, back-to-back clean sheets… Sounds perfect
@LFC #WOLLIV
And I wish a speedy recovery to @rpatricio1_
pic.twitter.com/P1lr40MjH2
— Ozan KABAK (@ozankabak4) March 15, 2021
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 15, 2021
Wolves were undone by former striker Jota who scored his first goal since November following a knee injury.
But he was more concerned about his old friend and teammate after the game than his winning goal, as he sent a message to Patricio.
Asked about the game, he said in reply: “I think life is more important. I hope it’s nothing too serious and I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp echoed his forward’s sentiments after the game, saying: “It was an awful situation.
“In these moments everything loses importance immediately.”