Curtis Jones has been left out of Liverpool's matchday squad to face Brentford on Sunday amid fears the 23-year-old has picked up a fresh injury.
The Reds midfielder was named on the substitutes bench for last weekend's Premier League opening victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road but has failed to appear at all for Arne Slot's side on their return to Anfield today.
The Dutchman did not namecheck Jones as an injury concern during Friday's pre-match press conference but the midfielder has now emerged as a surprise omission from today's matchday squad to face the Bees.
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Following the team news for today's game, various reports suggested Jones had picked up a fresh injury in training, with the ECHO soon claiming he is suffering from a "minor muscle issue".
Slot has since confirmed this to be the case, suggesting Jones has been left out for precautionary measures. Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, he said: “He picked up a little injury during the week and missed a couple of sessions, so will not be available to play.”
It comes as a minor setback to Jones, who has endured his fair share of injuries throughout his Reds career. Hopefully this won't keep him out for too long and he'll be able to return to action as quickly as possible.
The midfielder made 36 appearances across all competitions last season, with 24 of those coming as starts, and recorded five goals and three assists.
However, Jones also missed 14 games through injury, suffering from thigh and ankle issues that kept him out for a large part of the season.
The youngster is entering his sixth straight campaign as a regular first-team player and will be hoping to cement himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet under Slot this season.
However, persistent injuries won't help his cause, especially if he wants to earn a new deal once his current one expires in 2026.
