Liverpool’s disappointing 1-0 FA Cup exit to Plymouth Argyle was compounded by fresh injury concerns, with Curtis Jones revealing he wasn’t fully fit ahead of the match.
The midfielder, surprisingly named on the bench, was not used during the game, raising questions about his availability for Wednesday’s Merseyside derby against Everton.
Arne Slot made 10 changes to his lineup for the trip to Home Park, handing starts to youngsters like Trey Nyoni and Isaac Mabaya, who made his senior debut after Joe Gomez limped off early with an injury. However, the decision to leave Jones on the bench throughout the match puzzled many, especially as Liverpool’s midfield struggled to impose itself against a physical Plymouth side.
After the game, Slot explained the situation, revealing that Jones had approached him on matchday morning to express concerns about his fitness.
“Curtis came to me this morning and said, ‘I don’t think I’m fully recovered yet,’ after the training session yesterday,” Slot told reporters. “That meant we ended up with more youngsters on the pitch than we initially planned. But even so, there was enough quality out there to get a better result than this.”
Jones’ absence adds to Liverpool’s growing injury list. Gomez’s early exit has left Slot with limited defensive options, while Tyler Morton remains sidelined. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return from a thigh injury is still uncertain, with Conor Bradley also missing the Plymouth clash, suggesting the vice-captain may not be fully ready for the derby.
Slot will now assess Jones’ fitness ahead of the Everton game. If the 24-year-old is unavailable, the midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister is likely to start at Goodison Park
