Curtis Jones Omission Raises Concerns Over Liverpool Future
Curtis Jones has vanished from Liverpool’s teamsheet again, and the timing could hardly be more provocative.
The midfielder was left out of the squad for Liverpool’s second friendly of the day against Como, just hours after the sides had met behind closed doors at the AXA Training Centre. That first game finished goalless. This one, played in front of supporters, goes ahead without Jones anywhere near the pitch.
Liverpool, according to Tuttomercatoweb, have briefed that the England international is working individually instead. The club also pointed to the minor hip issue that kept him out of last week’s friendly with Monaco.
On its own, that sounds routine enough for pre-season. Taken alongside the growing noise from Italy, it does not.
Inter have been tracking the 25-year-old as they weigh up midfield options in the final stretch of the summer window, and every game he misses sharpens the focus on his situation. There is no confirmation that his omission is linked to any potential transfer, but the optics are impossible to ignore. A player being monitored by the Nerazzurri is suddenly nowhere to be seen in back-to-back friendlies.
For now, the official line is fitness and individual work. The market will decide how long that explanation holds.
Fabregas hands Chalobah a start as lineups named
On the pitch, Como boss Cesc Fabregas used the occasion to take a closer look at another Premier League export. Trevoh Chalobah was handed a starting role, a notable show of faith as the Italian side continue to fine-tune their squad.
Fabregas kept some of his higher-profile names in reserve. Nico Paz, Maxence Caqueret and Alvaro Morata all began on the bench, waiting for their chance to influence the game later on.
Across the halfway line, Liverpool lined up with a strong-looking XI, despite the absence of Jones. Alisson started in goal, with Virgil van Dijk anchoring a back line that also featured Jacquet and Kerkez. Wirtz, Szoboszlai and Isak offered control and creativity in midfield, while Cody Gakpo, Frimpong, Gravenberch and Ngumoha formed an attacking unit designed to stretch Como.
Andoni Iraola’s bench was notably lighter: Davies, Munoz, Araujo, Nyoni, Koumas, Ndiaye and Wright provided his only options to change the game.
Como, by contrast, named a deep list of substitutes. Behind the starting XI of Butez; Bruno, Milla, Douvikas, Ramon, Couto, J. Rodriguez, Baturina, Chalobah, Liberali and Da Cunha, Fabregas could call on Kempf, Valle, Goldaniga, Morata, Caqueret, Gabrielloni, Nico Paz, Audero, Dossena, Lahdo, Kuhn, Tronqvist, Vigorito, Perrone, Fadera, Smolcic, Asfour, Rispoli, Diao, Van Der Brempt and Azon.
Plenty of moving parts, plenty of tactical options. And one glaring omission.
As Liverpool push through the final weeks of pre-season and Inter continue to scan the market, the question hangs over Anfield: is Curtis Jones simply being managed carefully, or is this the quiet prelude to a significant move?
