Curtis Jones has started Liverpool’s last two games at right-back, with Arne Slot comparing him to Trent Alexander-Arnold in what he can offer in the role.
Jones was preferred to Jeremie Frimpong in the back-to-back victories over Everton and Crystal Palace, with the 25-year-old producing two excellent performances.
It has even led to debate over whether his full-time role could be at right-back, rather than midfield, having found starts hard to come by in his second season under Slot.
Speaking before the 3-1 win over Palace on Saturday, Slot told the Liverpool Echo‘s Ian Doyle that Jones’ ability on the ball reminded him of what Alexander-Arnold offered.
“What helped us is that he is really comfortable on the ball,” he said.
“That was a quality that a right-back had for a long time who played here before, a very, very comfortable player on the ball in Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“He gave I wouldn’t say a copy of Trent, but Curtis gave us that quality on the ball – calm, finding the right passes, starting to dribble, he gave us that in the Everton game and that helped us.”
Jones was Liverpool’s most-involved player in the Merseyside derby, with a game-high 118 touches and 79 passes completed (94%), and then second-most involved against Palace, with 77 touches and 54 passes completed (83%).
In both games he topped the charts for defensive contributions – 28 vs. Everton, 13 vs. Palace – but Slot believes his positioning is still an area for improvement.
“Curtis showed mainly character [against Everton],” he continued.
“Playing not in your own position in a very difficult away game, difficult circumstances, and to have that performance is really good.
“But when I look a bit deeper into it, he is one of the players I spoke to this week that in certain situations he has to position himself a little bit more as a natural full-back.
“But it’s normal that he hasn’t done that yet. There is still room for improvement in that position.”
Like Andy Robertson, who has started three of the last four games at left-back, Jones’ late-season resurgences comes ahead of an expected move from Liverpool.
There remain hopes the Scouser will stay and extend his contract beyond his current terms expiring in 2027, and Slot has refuted suggestions he hasn’t used him enough.
“Since I am the manager he plays much more minutes than he ever did before,” he said – which is true, with Jones playing a career-high 2,490 so far this season.
“That’s down to me liking the player and the fact our squad has become smaller, mainly because of injuries.”
But with Dominik Szoboszlai (4,376), Ryan Gravenberch (3,802) and Alexis Mac Allister (3,525) all playing considerably more and Aston Villa among the clubs interested, Jones could still push for a more prominent role elsewhere.
Perhaps though, with Frimpong yet to convince and Conor Bradley struggling with injuries, Jones’ way into the first-choice lineup and a long-term future at Anfield could in fact come at right-back.
The Big Debate
Should Curtis Jones stay as Liverpool’s long-term right-back?
Arne Slot has seen the “Trent quality” in Curtis Jones after two standout performances against Everton and Palace. While it offers a path to the starting XI, a move away from midfield could influence his future as Aston Villa wait in the wings ahead of the final year of his contract.
Would you like to see Jones stay in the back four? Have your say in the comments!