Curtis Jones could return to Liverpool’s starting XI for Thursday’s Europa League encounter against Toulouse.
Jones has been unavailable for selection for the Reds’ last two Premier League outings after being sent off in the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last month. The midfielder was initially shown a yellow card by referee Simon Hooper for a challenge on Yves Bissouma but that was later upgraded to a red after Hooper consulted the VAR.
After Liverpool’s appeal to the Football Association was rejected and his three-match ban subsequently upheld, Jones has been made to watch his side’s games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton from the sidelines.
However, as his ban does not appeal to UEFA competitions, the 22-year-old could return to the starting XI for Liverpool’s third Group E fixture of their Europa League campaign, in place of Ryan Gravenberch.
Gravenberch, a deadline-day signing from German champions Bayern Munich, was handed his first Premier League start of the season against Everton on Saturday afternoon and impressed while lining up alongside fellow summer signings Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.
Victory against the Ligue 1 outfit at Anfield on Thursday will edge Liverpool towards securing qualification to the knockout phase, with the Reds knowing all three points in the return fixture in France next month will secure progression to the round of 32 at the very least.
Expected to join Jones in the engine room on Thursday night will be Wataru Endo, who is still getting to grips with the demands of Jurgen Klopp and has started just one Premier League game for the Reds since his surprise summer move from Stuttgart. Harvey Elliott could slot on the right to complete the midfield lineup.
In defence, Kostas Tsimikas will be expected to continue deputising for the injured Andy Robertson, with youngster Luke Chambers more likely to be handed an outing against Bournemouth in the League Cup next week. Joel Matip and Jarell Quansah will be in contention for a starting berth at the heart of defence. Caoimhin Kelleher will keep his place between the sticks.
At the other end of the field, Darwin Nunez should return to the frontline after an impressive late cameo against Everton on Saturday afternoon, while Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah are likely to keep their places from the victory in the 243rd Merseyside derby.
But after appearing in all but one of Liverpool’s 12 games in all competitions this season, Klopp could hand the Egytpian a well-deserved night off come Thursday.
Potential Liverpool XI vs Toulouse: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Elliott, Jones; Diaz, Nunez, Salah
