Curtis Jones didn’t play at all as Liverpool drew 1-1 away at FC Midtjylland in the UEFA Champions League. Despite that, the game increased his standing.
Curtis Jones sat on the bench for Midtjylland 1-1 Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp rotated fairly heavily, meaning a different teenager played the 90 – Leighton Clarkson.
Clarkson started alongside Naby Keita before partnering Jordan Henderson for the last half an hour. Takumi Minamino then floated around as a third midfielder.
And coming away from it, you can’t help but think Jones saw his standing increase.
First XI
We wrote before the game how Klopp could effectively cement Jones as a first-team player by leaving him out. It suggests the Scouser is a player worth resting and the Liverpool need him fresh.
But it came with a risk for Jones – what if a replacement shone? Keita started, after all, and he’s Jones’ biggest competition for a first-team place.
The 19-year-old got away with that one, then.
Keita didn’t perform. He was missing for large portions of the game and had no real effect on proceedings. Given he was a senior, experienced option playing against the Champions League group’s weakest opponents, that’s quite bad.
And it makes Jones, in comparison, look like the better option for the big games. Jones settled the Ajax game a week ago, after all, and it putting in solid performances every week.
He’s looked like the better option for a while now and it’s hard to see the spot as anything but his.
Fabinho is in defence, Thiago is out, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is yet to play this season – Jones feels like a lock in midfield alongside Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum.
Wednesday only confirmed that. He’s not only playing well but there isn’t currently an option who rivals him.
It’s been a rapid rise over the last 12 months and Jones has confirmed himself as a first-XI player.
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