Medical insider reveals how Liverpool set for injury deluge after Curtis Jones reveal
The absence of Curtis Jones from the Liverpool line-up against RC Strasbourg last Sunday (31 July) could signal that Liverpool are set for a flurry of minor injuries.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
Jones, 21, was substituted on for the final seconds of Liverpool’s 3-1 win over City in the Community Shield last Saturday (30 July).
But he was not selected by Jurgen Klopp for the 3-0 friendly defeat to Strasbourg at Anfield the following day.
As quoted by club media after the match, Jurgen Klopp revealed that the midfielder had been “desperate” to play but was told “no” by the medical department because of an unspecified knock.
Dinnery explained why the department’s assertive stance could mean Liverpool have more time-loss injuries but fewer severe setbacks in 2022-23.
“Jones wants to put his hat in the ring to be in and around the starting XI for the first game of the season,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“He’s young, he’s desperate, and he wants to be a part of it. But he’ll know in hindsight that this was the right decision.
“He may have been flagged as a potential risk. The medical department in conjunction with the player will have decided it’s best not to risk it in a non-competitive game.
“There are eight player sidelined for Liverpool. But my personal theory is that we may see a high number of smaller time-loss injuries, little niggles that ordinarily other teams will play through.
“But what we’ll see is the return-to-play timelines being dramatically reduced because the players aren’t risked unnecessarily. Klopp will rotate accordingly to minimise the risk o any of his players suffering a significant setback.”
In other news, pundit expects Liverpool to hold Roberto Firmino talks after Jurgen Klopp reveal.