Liverpool: Why Curtis Jones missed Monaco friendly as surprise summer transfer is 'confirmed'

Jones has been a feature for Liverpool throughout pre-season, playing in all three friendlies against Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds United in the United States.However, for the Reds’ first home game of the summer, the midfielder was a surprise absentee from the matchday squad against the Ligue 1 side.Speaking after his side’s 3-2 loss at Anfield, Iraola confirmed why Jones missed out.He said: “Curtis, he has trained every day but yesterday finished with issues in the hip.“It doesn’t look anything big but it didn’t make any sense to risk and those are the ones, more or less, closer to a return.”Absent: Curtis JonesGettyLiverpool raced into a two-goal lead at Anfield thanks to goals from Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz before the half hour mark.But for the second pre-season friendly in succession, the Reds failed to see out the result as Aleksandr Golovin, Mika Biereth and Paris Brunner sealed a comeback win for Monaco.Amid a defensive injury crisis, youngster Ifeanyi Ndukwe started alongside Virgil van Dijk with Iraola not willing to take any risks with summer arrival Jeremy Jacquet.The Frenchman is yet to feature for Liverpool in pre-season, but is on course to make his first appearance for the club against Como next week.“Jeremy Jacquet, we were in doubt whether to put him [in the squad] today, we decided not but he should be fine for the next one,” Iraola added.“It is taking a little bit of time, as we expected.”In fact, Barca boss Hansi Flick has effectively ‘confirmed’ the transfer after explaining why the Uruguay international has been allowed to leave the club.Read More“I think Ronald is a great guy and a great player, but our style of play is different from what he prefers,” Flick told reporters.Liverpool-bound: Ronald AraujoLondonStandard“He’s a powerful and fast player. It’s a shame for me; it’s been difficult, and I haven’t been able to count on him as much as I would have liked.“Past mistakes affected him mentally. I’ve seen him happy, and I wish him all the best.“He’s a fantastic person and player, and a great captain. Changes in life are normal.”