Arne Slot Reveals Curtis Jones Injury During Liverpool’s Champions League Win

Liverpool secured a 2-1 victory over Lille in the Champions League, marking their seventh consecutive win in the competition. However, the triumph was overshadowed by an injury to Curtis Jones, who was substituted at half-time due to discomfort.

Curtis Jones’ Injury Concerns

Liverpool manager Arne Slot confirmed post-match that Curtis Jones was withdrawn as a precaution after feeling a twinge before half-time. The initial plan was to rotate players, including Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, at the interval to manage their workloads. However, Jones’ condition altered those plans.
Slot explained:
“Curtis felt something just before half-time. He tried to push on for a few minutes but eventually decided he couldn’t continue. That’s why we kept Dominik on a bit longer than planned.”

Dominant Group Stage Performance

Goals from Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott secured Liverpool’s position in the top eight, guaranteeing automatic progression to the Champions League knockout stages. With 21 points, the Reds have achieved an impressive feat in the restructured league format.
Reflecting on the result, Slot said:
“We are happy to be in the top eight. This new league table can be deceiving, but 21 points make it clear there’s no debate about our position. We managed the loads well tonight while also securing the win.”

A Tough Test Against Lille

Despite the victory, Slot acknowledged the challenge posed by Lille, a team that had gone 21 matches unbeaten and defeated both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in this campaign.
“They are a strong side, and tonight’s game wasn’t easy. They’ve achieved a lot with limited resources, and we respect their efforts. Still, I wasn’t pleased with the one chance and one goal we conceded,” Slot added.