Curtis Jones proves worth to Arne Slot at perfect time in staggering Arsenal comparison
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The academy graduate has had mixed season, but put in a superb display in Liverpool's victory over Everton, as long-term questions over his Anfield future remainJones set a Premier League-high stat for possession won this season in the win over Everton(Image: 2026 Getty Images)Curtis Jones’ future remains uncertain at Liverpool, but Sunday’s performance in the 2-1 win over Everton was a reminder of the academy graduate’s quality.It has been an odd season for Jones, who has often impressed when selected by Arne Slot, but clearly is not the Dutchman’s preference in midfield. That he has so often selected Jones at right-back is an indication of that.The 25-year-old was a mainstay of the team in December as results and performance improved, yet after dropping out of the side against Arsenal at the start of the year, he has struggled to regain his place.READ MORE: Curtis Jones details classy Mohamed Salah gesture that sums up Liverpool legendREAD MORE: Curtis Jones goads Everton with brutal swipe after dramatic Liverpool derby finaleJones has started just three of the last 12 Premier League matches and none of the Reds’ six most recent Champions League games.Yet his quality was on show against Everton, with the Scouser putting in a superb performance from the right side of a back four.Indeed, one remarkable stat underlines just how impressive that display was.
Jones won possession 16 times against Everton, the most of any player in a Premier League game this season.Jones enjoyed himself during his first trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium(Image: Getty Images)In fact, only one other player even got into double figures in that particular stat this weekend, and that was West Ham’s Matheus Fernandes (10) in the goalless draw against Crystal Palace.As per Squawka, the last player to regain possession more often in a Premier League match than Jones was Arsenal’s William Saliba, who managed to win the ball 17 times against Manchester United in the 2023/24 season.Those numbers raise the question of whether selecting Jones at right-back is a viable option for Slot going forward, especially with Liverpool likely to dominate possession in Saturday’s game against Palace.But the bigger issue surrounds what long-term role Jones will have under Slot. The boyhood Red received interest from Inter Milan and Tottenham in January, although Liverpool never seriously considered letting him leave.His contract expires in a little over a year’s time, and his future will likely be a big talking point this summer.Asked about Jones’ future earlier this year, Slot’s response was vague.
“He is a Liverpool player and I think I have said this a few times, he is good enough to play for us, to start for us,” said the Dutchman after Inter’s interest was rebuffed.“He is a very good player but the only line where we don't have issues is the midfield and he has been playing the last 18 months more than he ever has in his time at Liverpool. So that tells you a lot about the development he has made.“But he is also in competition with a lot of players that I also like and they have done very well for this club as well.