- Curtis Jones was forced to leave the game with an injury during Liverpool’s win over Real Betis.
- Dominik Szoboszlai scored the game’s only goal for Pittsburgh.
- Arne Slott is hopeful Jones’ injury is not too serious.
Liverpool manager Arne Slott is anxiously awaiting news on midfielder Curtis Jones after he was forced to leave the club’s pre-season friendly against Real Betis.
The 23-year-old limped off with a muscle issue 30 minutes into the 1-0 win at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium early Saturday morning.
Speaking to the club’s website after his first competitive match in charge of the Reds, Slott said: “I think it’s too early to tell (how badly) … He could have carried on but I think you could see he wasn’t 100 per cent.”
“It was a friendly and there are still many days left on the tour so it was best to leave him out. We hope he recovers quickly but we’ll have to wait and see.”
“Hopefully he recovers quickly and we’ll see him in the next few games.”
![Curtis Jones was forced off injured after 30 minutes of Liverpool's 1-0 win over Real Betis.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/27/13/87835197-13678507-Curtis_Jones_went_off_with_an_injury_30_minutes_into_Liverpool_s-m-68_1722081914868.jpg)
Curtis Jones was forced off injured after 30 minutes of Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Real Betis.
![Arne Slott said he hopes Jones recovers quickly from his injury in the United States.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/27/10/87835199-13678507-image-a-23_1722071793441.jpg)
Arne Slott said he hopes Jones recovers quickly from his injury in the United States.
![He is already without several first-team players who are still back from international duty.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/27/13/87835201-13678507-He_is_already_missing_a_number_of_first_team_players_who_are_not-m-67_1722081897268.jpg)
He is already without several first-team players who are still back from international duty.
Jones was replaced by 17-year-old Trey Nyoni, who helped set up Dominik Szoboszlai’s winning goal in the 34th minute.
Slott added: “It’s always disappointing when he (Jones) has to go off after 25 or 30 minutes and it was clear even before that he wasn’t completely free.”
“He’s been really good in the last two weeks of training so I was looking forward to seeing him in the game and unfortunately he has to sit out so it’s disappointing.”
“The good thing was, I brought in some guys who impressed me over the next 45 to 45 minutes.”
“It was good for Trey to have Curtis out there, but obviously it’s disappointing for Curtis not to continue playing.”
Jones said he was “the happiest I’ve ever been” since Slott joined the club.
Speaking before the match against Betis, he said: “Arne is fantastic. I’m the happiest I’ve been. In terms of playing style, he suits us and our players. The plans are clear. He takes full part in training, coaches well and pays attention to the details.”
“My style of play has always been that of a kid who was comfortable with the ball, playing with it and helping the team. Then I joined a team that had world-class players on the wing and up front. I felt like I was more disciplined as a central midfielder.”
![Dominik Szoboszlai scored the only goal of the game after receiving a pass from Mohamed Salah.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/27/10/87835203-13678507-image-a-25_1722071896439.jpg)
Dominik Szoboszlai scored the only goal of the game after receiving a pass from Mohamed Salah.
“Of course, the principles are the same, but from now on the midfielders will be the focal point of the team. We need to be more composed and play as a team in terms of build-up and comfort with the ball.”
“We don’t want to rush the attack. We want to get the ball and break down the other team. I feel like we used to be in a lot more of a hurry. We got the ball back. I think we were a little bit too direct. Arne wants us to get the ball and completely break the other team.”
Liverpool plays Arsenal in Philadelphia on Thursday before hosting Manchester United in Columbia, South Carolina, next Sunday.