Curtis Jones faced Trent Alexander-Arnold in the Champions League, with the former Liverpool academy graduates going head-to-head in a Champions League glamor tie
Curtis Jones in Champions League action for Inter against Real Madrid.
Curtis Jones in Champions League action for Inter against Real Madrid.(Image: Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Costly mistakes put Inter in a tricky spot against Real Madrid, with former Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones guilty of a poor pass that led to the opening goal, scored by Kylian Mbappe.
Jones tried to pass back to Yann Bisseck, but got the ball wrong. The defender dallied and lost possession, with Mbappe clipping the ball into the back of the net with ease. At half-time, Joe Cole, speaking on TNT Sports, suggested that he should have made a simple pass rather than trying to overcomplicate things and turning into trouble.
Soon after, Real Madrid scored a second goal in an even more bizarre manner, with Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez attempting a Cruyff turn inside his own six-yard box.
When Federico Valverde pressed him, Martinez lost possession and the ball trickled into the back of the net in comical fashion. Inter had arguably been the better side, but found itself trailing by two goals at the break.
Alexander-Arnold was playing in midfield here, with Jose Mourinho experimenting with his number 12. Denzel Dumfries was at right-back, with no clear pecking order in defense having been established yet.
"The team has always been good," Mourinho was quoted as saying by AS after Real Madrid lost to Real Betis over the weekend.
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"I haven't seen the stats, but we created a lot. We missed three or four clear chances and their goalkeeper made three or four impressive saves.
"I didn't make changes because I wasn't happy; they were to take off the players who had been booked. It's better to play with Trent and Yan Diomande than with Denzel Dumfries."
In general, Jones has made a good start to life with Inter. He was brought on during a 3-2 win over Napoli over the weekend and earned plaudits for his performance.
"I just feel at home with the lads," Jones said after that game. "Since the first day, they've been unbelievable and so I can just be myself.
MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 05: Curtis Jones of Internazionale celebrates during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
Curtis Jones has opened up on his transfer to Inter Milan(Image: Getty Images)
"Of course I've got a point to prove but I know that if I'm just myself, the lads will like me, the staff and the fans as well.
"There’s a reason I came here: the phone calls we had, how the team plays, (Cristian Chivu's) tactical ideas, and how he works every single day. It’s the small things he says, things that might seem minor but end up having a massive impact."
Liverpool.com says: Neither Jones nor Alexander-Arnold were at their best here. In truth, it was a heavyweight clash without much quality in the most part. The Champions League group phase is excellent at pitting big sides together, but without much jeopardy.