The all-action but injury-plagued midfielder was facing an uncertain future at the start of the season but he's arguably undroppable right now
The atmosphere at Anfield was unusually flat on Wednesday night. The crowd had been bouncing after Liverpool's dramatic win over Brighton just three days before but the energy had been sucked out of them by the break against Bayer Leverkusen, with Xabi Alonso's impressively confident and composed side completely killing the joyous mood on Merseyside.
It was clear that Liverpool needed a moment of inspiration. They got one just after the hour mark, when Luis Diaz deftly dinked the ball over Lukas Hradecky. The finish was fantastic, no doubt about that, but the goal was all about the ball from Curtis Jones. "Even I didn't see the pass!" Ryan Gravenberch admitted afterwards.
If the little bit of genius by Jones took everyone by surprise, the fact that he'd made such a crucial contribution to another Liverpool win most certainly did not. Over the past few weeks, we've seen just how important a fully-fit Jones can be to the Reds – and why he's become borderline undroppable despite the intense competition for places in Arne Slot's midfield.
GettyThe leader of Liverpool's press under Klopp
On the face of it, Jurgen Klopp's shock decision to step down as manager during the summer couldn't have come at a worse time for Jones, who played a career-high 36 times in all competitions last season.
It was the German who had given Jones his debut all the way back in 2019 and it was the German who stood by him through some dark days, when issues with form and fitness resulted in his Anfield future being called into question.
"There were times when I was being told I needed to go out on loan, or I might need to leave the club," Jones explained. "And he was the man, he stuck with me the whole time."
By the end of Klopp's tenure, in fact, Jones had emerged as the undisputed leader of Liverpool's press. "Curtis sets the standard for how it should look," Klopp stated.
AdvertisementGettyA shaky start under Slot
There was, therefore, some uncertainty surrounding Jones and his exact role within Slot's side, particularly when it emerged that the Dutchman viewed compatriot Gravenberch as the potential solution to Liverpool's longstanding problem position.
Slot deployed Jones as a No.6 in his first game in charge: a behind-closed-doors friendly at Kirkby against Preston North End. It didn't go well. Liverpool lost 1-0 and Jones didn't impress – which didn't bode well for his first-team prospects.
The versatile Alexis Mac Allister was one of the Reds' best performers last season and almost certain to start, while the feeling was that the attacking midfielder role in Slot's 4-2-3-1 formation would suit Dominik Szoboszlai down to the ground.
It, therefore, didn't aid Jones' cause at all that he missed the start of new season with yet another one of the niggling injuries that have so often checked his progress.
GettyAn near-flawless passing display
When Jones was eventually fit to play, he was restricted to appearances off the bench in the Premier League, with Liverpool having made an impressive start to life under their new coach thanks in no small part to what was a pretty settled starting 11 during the first couple of months of the campaign.
However, Jones finally got a chance to impress from the off in the game against Crystal Palace just before the October international break – and he took it. During an energetic display in a slightly more advanced role, he showed what he was all about, creating a couple of big chances while at the same time retaining possession of the ball at a staggering rate.
Of the 47 passes he played that day at Selhurst Park, 46 found their intended target. It still came as something of a surprise to see Jones retain his place in the starting line-up for the visit of Chelsea on October 20, even if Alexis Mac Allister's exploits with Argentina undoubtedly played a part in Slot's thinking.
Jones, though, was immense against the in-form Blues, winning the penalty with which Mohamed Salah broke the deadlock before then bundling home the second-half winner after yet another brilliant burst into the area. As Slot also subsequently pointed out, Jones also shut down Chelsea's danger-man, Cole Palmer.
Getty Images Sport'His ability has never been in question'
The man of the match-winning display against Chelsea capped a wondrous week for Jones, as he had just become a father for the first time, meaning he'd even been forced to sleep in the spare room the night before the game. Not that he felt that made his performance any more impressive.
"She's a little dream," he told , dismissing the idea that he'd already suffered a few sleepless nights in the build-up. "She's just awake, she wants a feed and change and then she's back asleep.
"So I could have stayed in the main room, I would have been fine, but I just thought it's wise that I stay in the spare room. I was wide awake and I had energy."
Which he put to excellent effect against Chelsea by showcasing the kind of all-round game that many have long believed should help him become one of England's best box-to-box midfielders. The Three Lions' current interim boss, Lee Carsley, who worked with Jones at under-age level, has described him as one of the most gifted players he's ever coached.
"His ability has never been in question, because technically he has always been very good and someone who is comfortable receiving the ball in tight areas," former Liverpool ace Danny Murphy told . "As well as that, he has always worked very hard without it too.
"In that way, Jones is very much the modern midfielder, but the only things that have been missing up until now are goals and assists.
"His low numbers for both are sometimes used against him… So, I was delighted to see him getting forward so much against Chelsea and I’d put that down to a mixture of things – obviously the manager has given him the freedom to do it, but he also has the confidence and belief in himself to make those runs, and the physical fitness to keep doing it."
