With focus on Liverpool’s shortages in defence and attack this season, the midfield has relatively escaped without scrutiny.
However, there is little question that the middle of the pitch has been just as much of a problem as other areas for Arne Slot.
The reason for that is hard to understand. Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were sensational last season as Liverpool‘s starting midfield three and all have mainly been available this term.
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How much longer should Liverpool persevere with Curtis Jones?
Surely there are better options out there in the market…
Curtis Jones lines up ahead of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan at San Siro (Getty Images/Photo Agency).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Photo Agency
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Curtis Jones has forced his way into the team of late as well, and although there have been some sharp displays from the Liverpool academy graduate, doubt still surrounds his effectiveness as a regular starter.
Reds legend Steve Nicol certainly doesn’t think Jones has a long-term future in the starting XI, and the former full-back has called for Liverpool to dip into the transfer market in order to get their midfield back on track.
Steve Nicol wants a Liverpool midfield signing
On paper, the quartet of Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai is good enough to match any in European football.
But something is clearly not working this season, and although the form of Gravenberch and Mac Allister should perhaps be questioned first, Nicol says the time has come to replace Jones in particular.
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“I think if they brought a real midfielder in as well, I don’t think Curtis Jones is a starter in Liverpool’s best XI,” the pundit told ESPN FC when asked for which three signings Liverpool need to make next summer.
“I don’t have anybody at the top of my head but Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, no question were fantastic last year, it hasn’t quite worked this year for whatever reason.
“I think they need somebody who’s going to really shove one of them out to get them back to where they were and I don’t think Curtis Jones does that.”
You’ve got £80m to fix Liverpool’s midfield this summer, who are you buying?
Elliot Anderson applauds after Nottingham Forest's Premier League match against Manchester United at the City Ground (Credit: Getty Images/Molly Darlington).
Adam Wharton pictured playing for Crystal Palace in the UEFA Conference League match against Fredrikstad at Selhurst Park (Credit: Getty Images/Jacques Feeney/Offside).
Warren Zaire-Emery looks on during the UEFA Champions League match between PSG and VfB Stuttgart at Stuttgart Arena (Credit: Getty Images/Aurelien Meunier/PSG).
Sandro Tonali pictured in action during Newcastle United's Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg against Manchester City at St James' Park (Credit: Getty Images/Scott Llewellyn/MI News/NurPhoto).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Molly Darlington/Jacques Feeney/Offside/Aurelien Meunier/PSG/Scott Llewellyn/MI News/NurPhoto
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Nicol wants defensive and attacking additions too
If you ask Jones himself, he certainly believes he has the quality to become a regular starter for Liverpool. However, the soon-to-be 25-year-old has been huffing and puffing for years without any sustained success.
In the opinion of Rousing The Kop, a midfield signing is a necessity this summer, ideally a natural defensive midfielder who could properly protect the defence and allow Gravenberch a little more freedom.
But in a summer where Liverpool must also address glaring shortages in defence and attack, it feels like the midfield may be overlooked again. Nicol recognises this, also claiming that two centre-back arrivals and another wide forward would also be on his transfer wishlist.
“Centre-back’s pretty much the obvious one, they could probably do with two, never mind one,” he said.
“I would say a central midfielder and I think they need somebody in the wide areas, because obviously Mo’s [Salah] going to go somewhere and Gakpo’s becoming a little predictable, so I would look for a wide attacking forward.”
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