Curtis Jones Faces Ban After Red Card
In a recent turn of events, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones has found himself in hot water, receiving a straight red card, marking the third instance for Liverpool players this season. This development implies that Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool’s manager, will be without his young midfielder for the upcoming matches.
The Challenge and the Decision
Jones, 22, engaged in a challenge for the ball during the first half at Tottenham, which resulted in his foot going over the top and landing stud first into Yves Bissouma’s lower leg. Initially, referee Simon Hooper considered the challenge worthy of a yellow card. However, after consulting the pitch side screen on the advice from VAR Darren England, the decision was revised to a red card in the 26th minute. This left Liverpool with 10 men on the field, highlighting yet another perplexing decision from the officials and underscoring the need for a review of the rules.
Implications of the Red Card
Currently, Jones is looking at a three-match ban, a standard procedure for straight red cards associated with violent conduct or serious foul play. Consequently, Jones is set to miss the following games:
- Brighton (A) – Sunday, October 8
- Everton (H) – Saturday, October 21
- Nottingham Forest (H) – Sunday, October 29
Impact on Jones’ Playing Time
With an international break scheduled between the matches against Brighton and Everton, Jones’ opportunities to play will likely be limited to the Europa League, and a senior England call-up seems improbable. While Liverpool has the option to appeal the red card, as was the case with Alexis Mac Allister, the circumstances surrounding Jones’ case are not as straightforward.
Return to the Field
If the three-match ban holds, Jones is expected to make his return to domestic action on November 1, when Liverpool faces Bournemouth in their next League Cup tie.
