For Liverpool’s Europa League matchup against Toulouse on Thursday, Curtis Jones might start again.
After receiving a red card in the Reds’ 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur last month, Jones has been ruled out of the team’s last two Premier League matches. For a challenge on Yves Bissouma, the midfielder was initially given a yellow card by referee Simon Hooper, but that was later increased to a red after Hooper used the VAR.
Jones will be forced to watch his team’s matches against Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton from the sidelines after Liverpool’s appeal to the Football Association was denied and his three-match suspension was later upheld.
However, because his suspension does not apply to UEFA tournaments, the 22-year-old may replace Ryan Gravenberch in the starting lineup for Liverpool’s third Group E match of their Europa League campaign.
In his first Premier League start of the year against Everton on Saturday, Gravenberch, a deadline-day acquisition from German champions Bayern Munich, excelled while playing alongside other summer additions Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.
The Reds know that a win against the Ligue 1 team at Anfield on Thursday will move them closer to ensuring qualifying to the knockout round, and that a win in the return match in France next month will guarantee at least a spot in the round of 32.
Wataru Endo, who is still adjusting to Jurgen Klopp’s demands and has started just one Premier League game for the Reds since his unexpected summer transfer from Stuttgart, is anticipated to join Jones in the engine room on Thursday night. For the final position in the midfield, Harvey Elliott might be positioned on the right.
In the back, Kostas Tsimikas will likely continue filling in for the injured Andy Robertson, while Luke Chambers, a young player, is more likely to get a chance to play against Bournemouth in the League Cup the following week. At the center of the defense, Joel Matip and Jarell Quansah will be competing for a starting position. Caoimhin Kelleher will remain in the middle of the field.
Darwin Nunez, who made a brilliant late cameo against Everton on Saturday, should move back to the frontline, and Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah are set to preserve their spots following the win in the 243rd Merseyside Derby.
However, Klopp might give the Egyptian a well-earned night off on Thursday after having played in all but one of Liverpool’s 12 games across all competitions this season.
Potential Liverpool XI vs Toulouse: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Elliott, Jones; Diaz, Nunez, Salah