Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has revealed where he sees midfielder Curtis Jones playing his best football.
Jones joined Liverpool aged nine, rising through the club academy to sign his first professional contract in 2018 before making his Reds debut against Wolves in the FA Cup Third Round in January 2019. The English midfielder has since established himself as a regular and marked his 100th league appearance for the club with a tenth career goal.
Known for his dynamic playing style, Jones is also one of the most versatile players amongst Arne Slot’s squad having made appearances as an attacking midfielder, and even right back, alongside his natural role at the centre of midfield last season.
During an interview with talkSport, Slot was asked where the 24-year-old Jones plays best and the head coach’s response couldn’t have been more emphatic.
“I think if you ask him and if you ask me, we both have the same idea and that’s number 8. That would be his best position with a number 6 next to him, or behind him, and that he has a bit of freedom.
He’s played in every single position and if you’re able to do that, you feel comfortable everywhere on the pitch. So, if you feel comfortable everywhere on the pitch you like to go to different positions.”
Slot continued in his praise of Jones, pointing out his flexibility on the pitch, but also noted that whilst number eight is his best position, it’s also the most competitive in the squad.
“For me, a number six should keep his position much more. He can do this, but he prefers to have a little bit more freedom. And as a 10, he’s also able to play that role, but I think he’s better if the ball is in front of him, or he’s behind the ball, rather than having to wait for the ball to come to him because he’s quite impatient.
So for me his best position would be the number 8, but that’s also the position where we have the most competition with [Alexis] Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.”
Jones featured 33 times for in the league last season, playing 1,710 minutes, and started in the Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley, but with Alexis Mac Allister returning to full fitness, time on the pitch will need to be shared.
But it’s clear that Slot is in no doubt where Jones fits best and will be sure to accommodate him across the four competition Liverpool are competing in this season.
