Liverpool's Curtis Jones is making headlines as he steps into an unexpected role in England’s starting XI against Andorra on Saturday.
Thomas Tuchel is set to deploy the Reds midfielder at right-back, with Chelsea defender Reece James to start on the left flank. Ex-Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is on the bench, while former Reds captain Jordan Henderson will start in midfield.
Although Jones started just half of Liverpool’s Premier League matches this season, he has made a promising start to his England career, scoring once in four appearances. While it may not be a natural position for the 24-year-old, he has endured stints at right-back numerous times over his Reds career.
When Jones first broke into the Liverpool team under Jurgen Klopp in 2020, he occasionally filled in as a right-back. Three years later, he reprised that role, captaining Liverpool to a League Cup victory over Leicester. Taking on a Merseyside derby presented a different challenge, but Jones delivered a solid performance as Liverpool secured a 1-0 win.
His efforts earned praise from manager Arne Slot, who emphasized the value of versatile players in the squad. However, Gary Neville offered a surprising and contrasting opinion.
"I’m going to be quite ruthless here," Neville said on Sky Sports back in April.
"There’s no doubt that there are games where Curtis Jones could play right-back, but I think he (Slot) may play Quansah on Sunday at Fulham purely because it’s away from home and the away of doing a lot more defending, you’re going to get a lot more pressure.
Gary Neville criticized Jones during the Premier League season
Gary Neville criticized Jones during the Premier League season
“Will he be able to play at the Bernabeu and play against Real Madrid or City away or United away? I’m not so sure, he might have some problems, but he’s got the physical attributes for it and the ability on the ball, it’s just has he got the concentration, has he got the positional sense. He can work on it, but let’s see.”
The last time Jones played at right-back was during the 3-2 defeat against Fulham in April.
Jones struggled for much of the game against Marco Silva's, frequently exposed by Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi, with little help from Mohamed Salah, who failed to track back. His slow reactions contributed to Fulham’s opening goal, as he made a half-hearted challenge that allowed Sessegnon to score.
However, after shifting into midfield in the second half, Jones found his rhythm and became significantly more effective.
Liverpool.com says: Jones playing right-back for England is an intriguing choice. While not his natural position, his versatility and game intelligence could prove valuable. However, he’ll need to adapt quickly to the defensive demands of the role at international level.