Curtis Jones Absent as Liverpool Faces Como Amid Transfer Speculation

Curtis Jones was nowhere to be seen as Liverpool named their squad for the second friendly of the day against Como, a decision that sharpens the focus on his future amid firm interest from Inter.

The two sides had already met behind closed doors earlier on Sunday at the AXA Training Centre, grinding out a 0-0 draw in a low-key workout. This time, the rematch comes in front of supporters. Jones, though, will not step onto the pitch. He is not even in the matchday group.

Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb report that Liverpool have explained his absence as part of an individual training schedule. The 25-year-old also sat out last week’s friendly with Monaco because of a minor hip issue, and the club’s line is that his programme remains tailored around that.

The timing, however, is impossible to ignore. Inter have been tracking the England international as they weigh up midfield options, and every missed appearance in pre-season only adds oxygen to the story. There is no confirmation from Liverpool that the decision is linked to any transfer talks, but with the summer window entering its decisive stretch, his omission stands out.

Jones has long been viewed as one of the club’s homegrown pillars, yet this sequence of absences arrives just as the Nerazzurri step up their search for reinforcements. For a player supposedly only nursing a minor problem, another game watched from afar will not go unnoticed in Milan.

While the intrigue swirls around Jones, the football goes on.

Chalobah starts, stars wait in reserve

On the Como side, Cesc Fabregas has taken the chance to throw Trevoh Chalobah straight into the action with a starting berth. It is a notable show of trust in the defender as the Italian club continue to shape their squad.

Fabregas keeps some of his bigger names in reserve. Nico Paz, Maxence Caqueret and Alvaro Morata all begin on the bench, held back as impact options rather than early anchors.

Andoni Iraola, meanwhile, names a strong Liverpool XI, blending established leaders with emerging talent:

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

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

Coach:
Iraola.

Como starting XI:
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.

Liverpool’s preparations roll on under Iraola with another serious workout. The real question lingers elsewhere: as Inter watch closely and the window ticks down, how many more of these games will pass before Curtis Jones is back in red – or wearing different colours altogether?