Liverpool Hit by Curtis Jones Injury Blow Ahead of Burnley Clash
Liverpool’s preparations for the Premier League restart have been dealt a blow, with Curtis Jones ruled out of the upcoming match against Burnley due to injury.
Head coach Arne Slot confirmed the setback during his press conference, noting that while the majority of the squad returned from international duty in good shape, Jones won’t be available.
“We trained today for the first time with most of the squad,” said Slot. “The non-international players have been working with the U21s throughout the week. But Curtis Jones – I don’t know if you’ve heard – picked up an injury in the last match, so he won’t be involved against Burnley.”
It’s a disappointing development for the 24-year-old midfielder, who has been vying for a regular spot in a competitive midfield that includes Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister.
Jones’ absence will place additional creative responsibility on Wirtz, Liverpool’s new midfield signing. Despite transfer speculation over the summer, Slot’s continued trust in Jones has kept him at Anfield.
Slot expressed relief that no other major injuries occurred during the break, adding: “That’s not always the case, especially at the start of the season when players come back from varying fitness levels and are suddenly expected to play two matches in a few days.”
Midfield Options Without Jones
Without Jones, Liverpool will rely heavily on the likes of Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, and Gravenberch, who Slot praised for being managed well during the international window.
Although fixtures are piling up, this injury is still a setback. Sir Kenny Dalglish had previously called Jones an underrated contributor during last season’s title-winning campaign, and the club will be hoping he returns quickly to play another key role this year under Slot’s leadership.
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