Inter Milan 0-1 Liverpool: Arne Slot press conference
The former Liverpool duo have discussed the recent form of Curtis Jones in Arne Slot’s midfield.
Phil Thompson extolled the recent Liverpool impact Curtis Jones and is showing he can be a regular starter.
The midfielder has struggled to nail down a spot in the Reds' team week in, week out, despite making a total of 199 appearances for his boyhood club. During last season's Premier League title triumph, he started 19 games, while only four of his 13 top-flight appearances this term have been from the outset.
That has been due to a combination of injuries and Slot preferring to deploy Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Florian Wirtz in the middle of the park.
Thompson has been really impressed by the 24-year-old's ability to keep the ball in tight spaces to break the opposition's lines. And the former Liverpool captain and assistant manager reckons that Jones' recent displays mean he's making himself undroppable in Arne Slot's side.
‘Quite sensational’
Speaking on The Official Liverpool FC Podcast, Thompson said: "It's quite obvious to me how influential he has become. I thought he was our man of the match against Leeds, I know a lot of people [said] Dominik but I thought Curtis Jones was [against Inter, he's done it again. He was absolutely terrific.
“He's been great in tight situations, keeping possession. He's looked strong on the ball, turning in tight areas which is so important to go forward to get beyond the lines. You look at that (his stats), that is quite sensational.
“All the times he keeps coming in, he seems like he's got to keep proving himself to anybody and deserves it because people go on about Ryan, Dominik and Alexis. This boy is breaking that mould, this boy is making I said that: 'I should be playing' because what he's doing in the games and he's shown is he can break those lines. He can get the ball in tight areas and turn. The way you see a lot of other top players in other teams and he's shown he can be in this team in his own right.”
‘Brave’
Neil Mellor was also impressed by Jones’ performance against Inter as he displayed bravery in a red-hot San Siro. The ex-Liverpool striker said: “That screams to me, brave. He was excellent against Leeds but we dropped two points. The lads must have been thinking: 'This is a tough game tonight, the atmosphere, they're absolutely up for Inter Milan'. He is brave to want to get on the ball in tight areas, he doesn't panic at all. I thought he was outstanding. They all were in there.”
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