Liverpool are without Curtis Jones for the visit of Brentford on Sunday, with the midfielder becoming the first player ruled out of contention for Arne Slot. The Reds are back at Anfield for their first home game of the season, with Brentford the visitors for a 4.30pm kickoff. With the teamsheet announced 75 minutes before kickoff, it was confirmed that Slot had opted for Ibrahima Konate over Jarell Quansah in defence as his only change. But after concerns over both Quansah and Ryan Gravenberch in the buildup, it was Jones who was instead left out of the squad. That comes after a suspected groin injury picked up in the training on Friday, with the Mail’s Lewis Steele describing it as a “minor tweak.” “He picked up a little injury during the week and missed a couple of sessions, so will not be available to play,” Slot explained pre-match. Joe Gomez has rejoined the squad in place of Jones, with the No. 2 having missed the 2-0 win over Ipswich last weekend amid talks over his future. Jones’ absence is the first of Slot’s competitive reign, though it is in fact the second injury the midfielder has suffered himself already this term. However, the concern picked up on the pre-season tour of the United States did not see the 23-year-old miss any of Liverpool’s warmup friendlies. Last season saw Jones sit out of 13 games for his club due to three separate injuries, with his minutes limited in a campaign that saw him feature 36 times. There had been speculation that Stefan Bajcetic would join the squad for Sunday, but with at least seven clubs interested in a loan deal the Spaniard remains out. Trey Nyoni started and scored for Liverpool U21s on Saturday, while fellow midfielders Tyler Morton and James McConnell continue to sit out ahead of proposed transfers. Jones’ injury leaves Slot with only five fit senior midfielders: Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott and the out-of-favour Wataru Endo.

Jones’ Injury Jarell Quansah’s availability for Liverpool’s 2024/25 Anfield opener will have been a welcome sight for fans. The Englishman was reported to be missing from training and a potential doubt for Brentford. However, it’s now emerged that the Reds have a fresh injury concern. Lewis Steele reports on X (formerly Twitter) that Curtis Jones has been ruled out of the impending Premier League tie ‘with a minor muscle tweak’.

Impact of Jones' Absence It’s certainly reassuring to hear, though perhaps a warning sign for our recruitment team not to assume our current options are capable of carrying us through a larger programme of fixtures this term. That’s not to suggest we fail to understand the realities of the market, of course. The right option (capable of genuinely improving the squad or adding competition) may not be as available as fans hope and/or believe. We just hope Slot’s first season at the Anfield helm isn’t made to suffer as a result of a potential lack of reinforcements this summer.

Looking Ahead The Reds midfielder has been left out of today's matchday squad to face Brentford amid fears he's picked up a fresh injury in training this week, with Arne Slot expected to reveal more after the game. 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. 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.

The Latest Arne Slot has explained Curtis Jones' omission from Liverpool's matchday squad ahead of their encounter with Brentford today (August 25). The English midfielder will play no part of the Merseysiders' encounter with the Bees at Anfield. Slot was asked about Jones missing out on today's game. The Dutch coach explained to Sky Sports that he picked up an injury earlier this week:

Jones' Ambition Jones was an unused substitute in Liverpool's season-opening 2-0 win against Ipswich Town last weekend. He was a prominent member of Slot's pre-season, but an injury prevents him from appearing against Brentford. Slot has no other injuries to deal with as he looks to make it two wins from two games. Jarell Quansah has dropped to the bench, with Ibrahima Konate displacing him. Liverpool were made to work for their victory against Ipswich but goals from Diogo Jota (60') and Mohamed Salah (65') got the job done. Slot will want a similar result and perhaps a more dominant performance against Brentford. Jones will be eager to break into Slot's starting XI, having struggled to be a regular starter under former manager Jurgen Klopp. He spoke about his ambitions for game time this season and how his versatility can help the Reds (via the Liverpool Echo): Jones appeared 36 times across competitions last season, posting five goals and three assists, displaying his versatility. He started 14 of 23 Premier League games in Klopp's final season in charge at Anfield. The Englishman has over two years left on his contract, so there is little talk over his future. He had a promising pre-season under Slot and could be handed an important role during the 2024-25 campaign.