Arne Slot has explained why Curtis Jones hasn’t featured as often as the midfielder would have liked, despite him being a “very good player.”
In the first half of the season, when Liverpool reached their lowest ebb, Jones was one of the players who could come out with his head held high.
Despite playing relatively well, admittedly under a low bar, he has started only 17 of Liverpool’s 38 games this season and has been left wanting more, even considering a move away in January.
Against Brighton, Jones played at right-back and scored his first goal for over a year. Slot was asked for his opinion on the 25-year-old’s performance.
“[He played] very well. Curtis is a very good player, I’ve said this many times also to him and he agrees with me by the way,” Slot responded.
“Unfortunately for him, he’s playing in a line (midfield) where I have many good players and also [they are] available.
“So if he would be playing in another position, he would have played much, much more, but that’s the only line – touch wood – where we haven’t had our problems this season, and then you sometimes need him or other players in different positions and so many times they’ve done well.
“Dominik has played so many different positions, Ryan (Gravenberch) played centre-back and now tonight Curtis had to play as a full-back and he did really well.
“It was very pleasing to see that the first goal was an assist from the left full-back to the right full-back – that probably tells you a lot about the intentions these players have when they step on the pitch.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 14, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones celebrates after scoring the first goal during the FA Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Slot’s explanation regarding a lack of midfield injuries preventing Jones from starting more games stands up to some extent, but it is questionable that Alexis Mac Allister has kept his place in the team at times.
Though Jones is keen to play in his preferred position, he insisted on All Red Video: “Yeah I’m a centre mid and I want to score goals and assist and help the team.
“But if the manager needs me and the team needs me to go and play as a centre-half or a full-back, a striker, I go and do it and I’ll try my best.
“Today I was in there as a full-back and obviously I’ve scored and helped the team, so I’m happy.”
At 25 years old, Jones is at a point in his career where he will be coming to his peak years as a box-to-box midfielder.
He is an ambitious player and confident in his ability so won’t sit on the bench forever. This Is Anfield understands Jones was keen on a move to Inter Milan which didn’t materialise.
Hopefully, his performance against Brighton indicates to Slot that he should be starting, whether that be at right-back or in midfield.