Curtis Jones has cut a somewhat controversial figure for Liverpool supporters since the January transfer window.
It emerged late into the month that the Scouser could in fact be leaving, prompting an emotional response from fans desperate for him to stay.
Although Jones ultimately ended up continuing at Liverpool until the end of the season, he has consistently been overlooked by Arne Slot, leading many to deduce that he could be on his way during the summer.
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Mohamed Salah shakes Arne Slot's hand as he comes off during Liverpool's Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground (Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC).
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In the meantime, the 25-year-old was given an unexpected chance to start on Sunday after Florian Wirtz was injured in the warm-up before Liverpool’s clash with Nottingham Forest. Jones came in for Wirtz but was spectacularly bad in midfield, leading to a switch to right-back midway through the first-half.
The No. 17 did improve at full-back, but when asked why he swapped Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai with the score at 0-0, Slot made some comments to Sky Sports which do not bode at all well for Jones.
Slot unimpressed with Liverpool in possession
Jones was guilty of slowing the play down right from the first seconds of Sunday’s game, continuing to put his foot on the ball and run the Reds into trouble.
Liverpool were badly losing the midfield battle, and according to Slot, this was the key reasoning behind his decision to move Jones into defence and push Szoboszlai forward.
Curtis Jones pictured in action during Liverpool's Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
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“It was about having more control over their midfield,” said the Dutchman. “I just highlighted how well they played. We lost ev-e-ry ball. We could not keep the ball for one second. If we went long, we lost the duel. We lost a lot of second balls.
“The only part of the game that went well was defending inside the box. I saw players throwing themselves for long balls, had to defend set pieces. That’s what we did well and stayed in the game. “The second half I saw something slightly different. We took over the game.”
Although Slot clearly did not mention Jones by name in his dressing down of the Liverpool midfield, the academy graduate was easily the most culpable, winning three out of 12 duels throughout the match. That a change brought further stability will not do him any favours, either.
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Jones likely to leave Liverpool
Jones does retain many supporters within the Liverpool fanbase, but those are surely now beginning to dwindle.
He has his qualities, but Sunday was Jones at his very worst. Unable to keep the ball and being constantly beaten in duels, this was the exact opposite of the kind of performances he needed to get Slot back on side.
With his contract only running for another year-and-a-half, it would now be a surprise if Jones signs on for an extension with Liverpool. Instead, his time with his boyhood club looks more likely than ever to end this summer.
There is still a way back for Jones, but if he does not improve when played in midfield, the doors which remain open at Anfield will surely begin to close. Slot clearly saw it, and once the Dutch coach has made his mind up about a player, he does not often change it.
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