Liverpool put in a much better performance against Inter Milan, with certain stars playing their way into the team.
The Reds produced a real smash-and-grab performance at the San Siro on Tuesday night, with Arne Slot getting a much-needed win to take the pressure off his job.
He really needed this given all the noise surrounding the club over the last few days, with the Dutchman getting his team selection spot on.
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Who was your Man of the Match during Liverpool’s brilliant 1-0 win over Inter Milan?
Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Conor Bradley celebrate after Szoboszlai scores during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan
Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images
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There was one player in particular who has been impressing when given the chance, though, and against Inter, he did the same again, with ex-Red Stephen Warnock praising him for his ‘mature’ performance.
Stephen Warnock believes Curtis Jones is really starting to shine for Liverpool
Liverpool’s squad is stacked with top talent, meaning sometimes players cannot get the game time they perhaps deserve, with Curtis Jones one of those who was suffering from this.
However, he has been getting more minutes as of late and has really started to take his opportunities, with his outing in Italy proving just that.
Curtis Jones of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
He was excellent in the middle of the park in Liverpool’s new system and he is starting to progress in the way fans would have hoped, and Warnock was full of praise for how ‘mature’ he was during the game.
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“Curtis Jones was absolutely sensational,” he said as per BBC Sport.
“I thought it was a real mature performance and he actually grew up. I know that sounds really daft because he’s already 24, but it was one of the most mature performances from him.”
Jones has now started and played back-to-back 90 minutes for Liverpool, showing how he is slowly gaining the trust of Slot and that he might be becoming a key man in the middle of the park.
What more does Curtis Jones need to do to cement his place in Liverpool’s starting XI?
Curtis Jones in action for Liverpool during their UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan. (Credit: Getty Images/Image Photo Agency).
He ran the midfield tonight 👏
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Liverpool’s midfield felt so much more controlled in their new system
The Reds’ midfield has been a big talking point this season as they felt far too open and exposed on many occasions, which is why Slot has been trying to change it.
By using a narrower diamond formation, Liverpool were much more compact in the centre of the pitch, with Inter finding it hard to find any gaps.
It also meant they were closer together to link up better and form triangles with one another, which helped them get out of a situation they would usually struggle with.
Slot simply has to use this system again when they face Brighton on Saturday as it might just be their way out of this mess, although it would suggest that Mohamed Salah is never getting back into the team.
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