Curtis Jones Absence Raises Transfer Speculation for Liverpool

Curtis Jones was nowhere to be seen as Liverpool named their squad for the second friendly of the day against Como, a decision that will only crank up the noise around his future amid interest from Inter.

The two sides had already gone head-to-head behind closed doors earlier on Sunday, serving up a 0-0 draw at the AXA Training Centre. This time, with supporters watching on, Jones was expected to be in the frame. Instead, his name was missing from the matchday list.

Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb reported that Liverpool have clarified the midfielder is set for individual work rather than involvement in the game. The 25-year-old also sat out last week’s friendly against Monaco due to a minor hip issue, a detail that offers a straightforward explanation but does little to cool the speculation.

Inter have been tracking Jones as they weigh up midfield options in the final stretch of the summer window. Against that backdrop, another absence – especially in a period when coaches are fine-tuning squads and handing minutes to key players – stands out.

There is no confirmation from Liverpool that the decision is linked to a potential transfer. Officially, it is fitness and workload. Unofficially, the timing will raise eyebrows.

On the opposite bench, Como boss Cesc Fabregas made a notable call of his own, naming Trevoh Chalobah in his starting XI while holding back Nico Paz, Maxence Caqueret and Alvaro Morata among a deep group of substitutes.

Team Line-ups

Here’s how the sides lined up at kick-off:

Liverpool: Alisson; Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Isak, Gakpo, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Ngumoha.

Substitutes: Davies, Munoz, Araujo, Nyoni, Koumas, Ndiaye, Wright.

Coach: Iraola.

Como: Butez; Bruno, Milla, Douvikas, Ramon, Couto, J. Rodriguez, Baturina, Chalobah, Liberali, Da Cunha.

Substitutes: Kempf, Valle, Goldaniga, Morata, Caqueret, Gabrielloni, Nico Paz, Audero, Dossena, Lahdo, Kuhn, Tronqvist, Vigorito, Perrone, Fadera, Smolcic, Asfour, Rispoli, Diao, Van Der Brempt, Azon.

Coach: Cesc Fabregas.

As the window ticks towards its close, every team sheet tells a story. Jones being off it again might be the clearest hint yet that this one is still being written.