Curtis Jones produced an accomplished display in only his second start as a right-back as Liverpool overcame Everton in the season’s second Merseyside derby – and in his assessment, Arne Slot gave a number of clues over the players he wants to work with.
By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com
Speaking the morning after his side’s 1-0 win, the Dutchman held Jones up as possessing a quality he and sporting director Richard Hughes have frequently discussed with an eye to the future.
“Of course, me and Richard talk a lot about this season and next season, and it’s nice to have versatile players,” Slot told reporters assembled at Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre. “And Curtis is definitely one of them.”
Though Jones sees himself as a midfielder, most comfortable as a No. 8 or No. 10, first and foremost the 24-year-old describes himself as a “footballer.”
“If I’m playing eight, if I’m playing 10, if I’m playing off the left, if I’m playing as a false nine which I’ve played as well, as a defender, it’s fine, I’ll go out there,” he told Optus Sport after the Merseyside derby.
In his 38 appearances under Slot so far, Jones has already played seven different roles – adding to his own list with additional duties as a No. 6 and a supporting striker.
There is no surprise, then, that the academy graduate has become a firm favourite of Liverpool’s new head coach, and that should point to where the club are aiming in the transfer market.
While Slot has installed certain players as specialists within his squad – Cody Gakpo has almost exclusively been used as a left winger, for example – it is clear that he prefers flexibility wherever possible.
That includes Dominik Szoboszlai playing as a striker; Luis Díaz splitting duties between the left wing and centre-forward; Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez being employed as full-backs; and Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch filling in at centre-back.
Jones is the gold standard where that is concerned, though, and that is why he has been used the most out of any other player outside of Slot’s preferred starting XI – on course to break his own record for minutes in a single season.
It allows Slot to work with a smaller core squad, which he seemingly prefers, knowing that he can rely on the flexibility of certain players to adapt when required.
“And he has this mentality, if you give him a challenge, he likes to be challenged. Yesterday was a challenge for him, because it wasn’t his normal position,” he continued in his praise of the No. 17.
“Some players hate to be challenged, they want to stay in their comfort zone, but Curtis is the type of player who wants to be challenged.”
That desire to take on a challenge was evident from his first day training under Slot, knowing that Liverpool had appointed a coach more aligned with his own ideals as a possession-hungry player.
While Harvey Elliott‘s short stature and lack of pace has seen him struggle to break into the regular rotation, the physical qualities that made Jones such a favourite under Jürgen Klopp have translated perfectly to this new setup.
And where Elliott may find himself surplus to requirements in the summer, with reports the club would accept the right offer for the 22-year-old, there is every sign that Jones would be the blueprint for any signings brought in.
Young, hungry, confident, tactically astute, technically superb and, crucially, willing and able to play in a variety of roles.
Links with Ajax defender Jorrel Hato and Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapié – equally comfortable as centre-back or left-back – adhere to that brief, as does reported interest in Southampton’s utility youngster Tyler Dibling.
In Jones, though, Slot inherited an even more valuable asset in that he combines that skillset and mindset with the intangible benefits of being Liverpool through-and-through.
Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s imminent departure to Real Madrid will create a vacancy for a new Scouse poster boy and the lad from Toxteth – who went viral this week for a lighthearted exchange with a young Everton fan at a petrol station – is readymade to fill it.
Liverpool will want as many of those characters as they can, but while it may be impossible to fulfil the dream of a team full of Scousers, Slot and Hughes will look for second-best in targeting the same versatility in the transfer market.
Expect the Reds to bring in even more flexible players in the summer ahead, as Jones’ successful outing at right-back has shown how valuable that can be.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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