Liverpool star proved he deserves to play more after under the radar cameo against Everton - opinion
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Liverpool were blessed with some great individual performances to help beat Everton.
Last season’s Premier League champions had to gut it out in the second half against the Blues, who mounted an unsuccessful comeback and lost 2-1 to the Reds.
Arne Slot’s side started brilliantly in the first 45 minutes with goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ektike giving Liverpool a deserved lead at Anfield.
But they did seem to struggle in the second half, allowing the Toffees back into the game, and losing the energy they had from the first half drastically.
While it was not a great watch for supporters in the last moments of the game, they still got a win and had some bright spots off the bench.
One player who returned after an injury and gave a positive account of himself was Curtis Jones, who came on for only 29 minutes but made an unseen impact.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
The Scouser had picked up a knock during the international break for England, which meant he had to miss both the Burnley and Atletico Madrid games.
However, his welcome return in the Merseyside Derby showed why he is deserving of more game time as the season goes on, especially with the number of competitions Slot’s side are expected to compete for.
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When he came on, he maintained a 94% pass accuracy and won three out of his four ground duels, the latter showing his defensive qualities.
Not only did he win the majority of his duels, but he also lost possession once during his time on the field, which shows his strength on the ball.
It is difficult to find a place to start him in the squad, considering Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai have been producing some of their best performances, but he should be included in the rotation list.
The Carabao Cup kicks off on Tuesday for the Reds at home against Southampton, and there is an opportunity for him to play 90 minutes there to prove his worth.
In the Premier League, he can build up and find a way to fight for a place in the squad if Slot allows him to come on earlier in the game to rest Szoboszlai in his position.
There is a risk of losing the 24-year-old if his game time is significantly reduced by the manager, and it could end up a very similar situation to Harvey Elliott.
Elliott does have a buyback clause, and he may return to the club if his performances are of the highest quality.
However, Jones may have to go to a different club on a permanent deal.
He is still young enough and offers something different in the midfield for teams, especially in England’s top flight, to be a starter elsewhere.
Jones deserves to be a starter, but currently, there are not enough opportunities besides domestic cup competitions for him to show how good he is.
All he needs is a chance in the middle of the park on a more regular basis, whether off the bench or starting, to prove to the manager he is still a great and consistent player to have in the squad.