Coach speaks as Liverpool star suffers season-ending injury and needs surgery

Vitezslav Jaros has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after sustaining a serious knee injury during training at Ajax, with surgery required for the Liverpool loanee

Vitezslav Jaros won't play again this season(Image: Getty Images)

Ajax manager Fred Grim concedes Vitezslav Jaros' knee injury "didn't look good," as the Liverpool goalkeeper now confronts a potentially extended rehabilitation period.

Jaros joined Ajax on loan during the summer window, and the Czech Republic international became a fixture in Amsterdam, recording 26 starts before sustaining the injury in training last week. Ajax announced on Friday that Jaros' season is now finished and the shot-stopper will head back to his parent club to commence the rehabilitation programme.

The 24-year-old becomes the third Liverpool player to endure a season-ending knee injury alongside Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, whose seasons concluded in January and September, respectively.

Addressing the blow, Ajax chief Grim described it as a difficult situation for both the club and the player as he now confronts the prospect of surgery.

"This has an impact, let's put it that way," Grim told ESPN. "It is never fun, but we just have to keep going. That's the reality. He was in a lot of pain. You still hope it's not too bad, but it didn't look good.

"I've spoken to several players. Again, it's very annoying. But we have to keep going. Everyone knows that."

Ajax coach Fred Grim gave an update on Vitezslav Jaros' injury situation(Image: Getty Images)

A statement from Ajax on February 20 read: "Ajax goalkeeper Viteslav Jaros has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

"The Amsterdam club's shot-stopper sustained a serious knee injury during training today. Medical examinations at the hospital have shown that surgery is required, meaning he will not feature again this season."

Jaros joined Liverpool's academy from Slavia Prague in 2017. He was part of the Reds squad that won the FA Youth Cup in 2019.

He made 39 appearances for St. Patrick's Athletic, a team based in the Republic of Ireland, during the 2020-21 season, winning the FAI Cup. Jaros spent the second half of the 2021-22 season on loan at Notts County, making 15 appearances in the National League.

Another temporary spell followed during the 2022-23 campaign, making 13 appearances for Stockport County, then of League Two.

Jaros spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Sturm Graz. He made 21 appearances in all competitions that year, winning the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup.

The goalkeeper featured twice for Arne Slot's side last season, entering as a substitute for an injured Alisson Becker during the Premier League victory against Crystal Palace in October before being handed a start in the 3-2 Carabao Cup triumph at Brighton shortly afterwards.

Jaros has also represented the Czech Republic at senior level, winning two caps to date.